Thankful Day 30:

Today I am thankful for: So many things to be thankful for.  I live a very blessed life.

A thought for Advent:
December is a holy month.  Maybe it is the dark, the silence that closes the days so quickly here.  This is a special time of year.  In just a few weeks, the sun will start shining a few minutes longer each day.  Every minute will be appreciated.  But no matter how dark it is now, we KNOW that the light is coming back.  We also know that one day the LIGHT of this world will come back to and reign in all of His glory. 

Christmas is a time of renewal for me.  Leading up to it is a time for rejoicing in family and friends.  It is also a time to recommit ourselves to Christ and try to live more Christlike lives every day.

Advent literally means 'The Coming'.  The sunlight is coming AND the light of the Son is coming.  It doesn't get better than that.  During this Advent Season, may we awaken our own light within us.  May we be reborn with a firmer resolve to deepen our love of our Savior and live His Gospel more fully. 

Looking Forward to Advent

On this first day of Advent, I thought I would put out some thoughts.

How would Christ want us to prepare for Christmas?

How would Christ want us to remember His birth?

How would Christ want us to celebrate His birth?

Sometimes we get so caught up in the 'doing and fussing' part of Christmas that we forget what it really should be - a celebration of our Savior's life.  I am just as guilty as anyone - if not more so.  I need to remember Christ and His life.  I personally am going to read scriptures of His coming and life during this year's Season.

Thankful Day 29

Today I am thankful for warm buildings and hot showers.  Today we stood in feel like temps of 15 degrees for 2 hours giving out cards to invite people to our Sacrament Meeting on 21 December.  We had to go into the mall next door twice to warm up.  It took over 3 hours after we got home for our bodies to be warm all over again.  Not much fun.

As a reminder, tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent.  We will be celebrating with the other senior missionaries.  None of them have heard of Advent, so this will be a wonderful time to share a new aspect of the Brugger/Bailey Christmas traditions.

Thankful Day 28:

Today I am thankful for the kindness of others.  I love it when people give up their seat to an older person or help a parent with their child/children.  I have had the blessing to share and be kind and to be on the receiving end of many kindnesses.  It warms the heart.

Our program was on last night.  To get 90 minutes down to less than 5 was amazing.  He did a good job.  I must admit that I was a bit scared but it turned out really well.

We went to the temple today and then got candles for the Advent Krantz.  It is starting to look Christmassy around here!

This is our Luke.  He is 7 today.  I cannot believe how grown up he is.  We love you Luke and are very proud of the wonderful young man you are. 

Thankful Day 27:

I will be ostracized from the family for this picture but it is so much fun!  When Pam was going to pre-school, her teacher 'Granny' made pilgrim costumes for all of the children.  My mother loved the idea and so Marianne and I did a marathon costume sewing and these were all ready for Thanksgiving.  One year might of been fine but it went on for too long.  I still love it.

Today I am thankful for the beauty of nature.  The sun came out and the sunset tonight was spectacular.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thankful Day 26:

Today I am thankful for traditions.  Traditions keep us anchored to family.  Because of traditions, special days become more special.  I love this time of year and it is because of the amazing traditions of the season.

Skum means foam or marshmallow in Danish.  I had a chocolate covered Jul Skum after dinner and it was delicious.

Something to be grateful for - my family is not from Middlefart, Denmark. 

Tomorrow night we will be in TV.  We will see what becomes of this television interview.

The Brooke's spent the afternoon with us.  Lars told me they tried hard to be on their best behavior.  Oh how he makes me laugh.  I think the Brooke's were a bit jealous of our set up and office mates.  We are blessed.

Thankful Day 25:

Today I am thankful for Skype and other internet services that keep our family united in spite of distance and time.  Love this.  Life would be lonely without it.

Just one month until Christmas!  Yay!  Actually I can't believe how fast time is going.  Just a couple of weeks until Christmas break.

It was a good day at  work.  I am very tired.  I didn't sleep well last night and looking forward to an early bedtime.

Thankful Day 24:

Today I am thankful for warm, dry clothes and warm, dry places to be in.  I am also grateful for the sun - even if it only shines for 30 minutes.

Today we did 7 books and had over 6 hours of camera time.  It was a good day.  We will be starting the welfare/hospital records in the next few days.  2 of the books are almost 20 inches tall and 8 inches thick.  Should be exciting.

Thankful Day 23

Today I am thankful that I can be thankful.  This may sound odd.  Today in Church, Sister Krag said that as Church members we have a greater ability to be thankful.  Because we know - we have an obligation to be thankful and express it often.  Without the Gospel in our lives, they are empty.  They may be as nice as with the Gospel but a testimony is deep and helps us be aware of the many blessings and opportunities for gratitude.  I am thankful for so many things everyday that I find myself offering up prayers to a very kind and loving Heavenly Father all day long.  I am very blessed and I know it.

Time to get out my heavy winter coat.  We were below freezing all day today in the 'real feel' temperature because of wind and rain.  The actual temperature is hovering in the upper 30's. 

Church was wonderful and spiritual.  We are so blessed to have this opportunity and so many wonderful people in our lives.

Thankful Day 22:

Today I am thankful for little surprises.  Clyde brought me a beautiful yellow orchid when he went out to finish up the shopping.  Then when he went to the bakery, he brought me a chocolate croissant.  It has been a fun day.

Thankful Day 21

Today I am thankful for pain relievers.  I woke up with a really bad sinus headache.  After taking everything in my cabinet for pain, it was finally lessened but I still came home at noon and slept.  Feeling a bit better tonight.

We are doing very well.  So blessed to be working in the Copenhagen archive.  We have such wonderful friends there.  Our newest project just showed up.  The books are huge.  It is the welfare records - starting in 1796.  Should be interesting.

Thankful Day 20:

Today I am thankful for technology.  Without technology - we would be serving a different mission.  With the wonderful technology at our fingertips, I can keep in touch with family and friends from far far away.

We spent this afternoon with the Brooke's.  We helped them set up their lights a little differently but they are really doing very well on their own.  It was fun to visit with them.  We didn't get home until after 6 p.m.

Thankful day 19:

Today I am thankful for so many blessings that I couldn't pick just one. I live a very blessed life.

A young man from Channel 2 in Copenhagen came and interviewed us for over 90 minutes about our projects and cooperation with the Copenhagen Archives.  We knew he was coming but expected him to spend maybe 15 minutes with us.  He watched us work and we finished a book and part of another while he shot away and asked questions.  It was a wonderful experience and we will see the results some time next week.

Thankful Day 18:

Today I am thankful for electric lights.  When the sun SOMETIMES comes up at 9:00 and goes down by 3:45 p.m. - light becomes very important.  I am grateful for bright lights to work by so that my body thinks it is getting sunshine.  I am also grateful for light to read by.

Tomorrow, Clyde and I will be interviewed for TV here in Denmark about Family Search and the work we have been doing here.  The news article from the archive has been publicized all over Denmark and they got a hold of the article.  They want to meet us and go for finer points.  We will see what comes of all of this.  I am not looking forward to this but will do it for the sake of the work. 

We got 6 books done today.  It was a really good day.

Thankful Day 17:

Today I am thankful for the beauty that is Denmark - both its people and scenery.

Today the archive had a party for our one year anniversary.  They gave us a copy of the Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales in Danish.  The book is red because they know it is one of my favorite colors.  A news article went out about us being here and what we have been doing.  I told Peter, in the interview - that I had come to love the young men as my sons.  They all came in and told me they thought of us as parents.  Mads said, "I see you much more than I see my own parents and I like you just as much."  Lars said that he really likes having a second mother.  I really do care about those guys.

Bo has come up with a program they are going to use for indexing here in Denmark.  He is really getting a lot of attention for this.  The archive personnel are excited to show it to us.

Thankful Day 16:

Today I am grateful for the opportunity we have of attending the Ama'er Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  What a wonderful place to share the love of the Gospel.  Today was the Primary program with all 5 of the children in our Branch participating.  Rebecca Pedersen, age 9, was baptized last spring.  She said that when she came up out of the water, she knew she had left her sins behind in the water.  Rebecca knew she had been washed clean.  These are her words.  She was truly speaking from her heart.  It was all like that.  They sang 'I am a Child of God' in Danish for the 4 verses in the Primary Song Book and then sang the first verse in English.  I couldn't stop crying it was so powerful.  I got up to lead the music and could not see it because I couldn't stop crying.  I had to just go by my gut instinct on that one.  I am grateful it wasn't a Danish hymn.

We had a beautiful day - though the gale force winds are just howling out there.  There soon will be no more leaves on the trees.  It was so dark today at 2:30, we had to turn on lights to see.  This is how it will be for a long time.

My new hat by the Stevns Klint or Stevns Cliffs in Denmark.  I love my hat.  I originally bought it for one of our daughters but she isn't getting it now.  She can have my other one - maybe.

 

The sea the shore under the cliffs.  This does not do it justice.

Thankful Day 15:

Today I am grateful for a warm coat, hat, gloves and warm winter boots.  It is getting colder and colder PLUS the dreaded wind blows all of the time again.  I liked it better when the wind didn't blow but that is what winter is about - gale force winds. 

Today we went with the Thorne's - the mission office couple and had a driving tour of the outer edge of the island where Copenhagen is.  We went to Roskilde and I bought two wool hand knit felted hats.  Boy was I glad that we got them.  I was warm and toasty and the wool didn't bother me (mostly because the hats never touch my skin - just cover up my hair.)  If for no other reason, today was a worth it just for that.  We saw the sea wall of Denmark and watched sugar beets get plowed up.  As the plow went through, the birds, especially seagulls - were right behind the plow.  There were thousands of them - it was quite a sight.  We were supposed to go to Tivoli today but it didn't work out.  We will have time during our Christmas break.  Looking forward to that and glorious Sabbath Day tomorrow.

Thankful Day 14:

Today I am thankful for my father, Archie Maynard Brugger.  He has been my hero my whole life.  He has lived a life of example and love of the Gospel and love of mankind.  I am so proud that I am his daughter.  Happy Birthday, Dad.  I hope this year is a better year than last.

Pernille came in this morning to tell us about the surprise her significant other gave her yesterday.  He lit 100 tea light candles and tapers all over their apartment.  He had her wear a special dress that he picked out for her.  Pernille said she does not have a romantic bone in her body but she KNEW that was romantic (and hot and smoky!) 

Mads came in this afternoon and asked we would like a treat.  It was a hazelnut and chocolate mousse tart  and lemon and almond biscotti.  Very good.  Mads said that everyone needs a treat on a dark Friday afternoon.  It was a good day.  A local radio guy came in and we spent about 15 minutes explaining our purpose and objective to being here.  He was very amazed.

Thankful Day 13:

I am so thankful for so many things today that I am not sure which one to mention today.  I am grateful for a good tech team that helped us get through another glitch in the computer and still be able to work through it.  We lost an hour to down time but still had 4+ hours of work done.  It was a good day.

We had 3 people come just out of the blue and ask what our purpose was in the archive.  We did have to take to explain but it was well worth it. 

Today it was pitch black when we went to work and pitch black by the time we got to our apartment.  The guys in the office think that they should be able to take time off to come in only when it is light.  I told them we would see the in February.  They are all complaining about the darkness and want to hibernate.  They all make me laugh.

Thankful Day 12:

Today I am thankful for temples.  I love spending time in the temple.  You are truly taken away from the here and now when you attend the temple.  We spent the afternoon with the missionaries that have been here 1 year.  It was a wonderful and uplifting experience. 

D-Cam shut down again today when we went to transfer.  So frustrated.  Don't know what we face tomorrow.  We left home this morning in the dark and came home this evening in the dark.  Had to pull out my winter boots and ear muffs.  I guess winter is really here now.

Thankful Day 11:

Today I am grateful for the Veterans of the Armed Services.  My father was a 'lifer' in the Army as a Surgeon.  My father-in-law was a draftee of the Army Air Corp in WWII.  My son-in-law, Brandon Nordell was also a long time service veteran in the Air Force - leaving this last summer for civilian life after long years of service.  I am proud of these men and other people that I have known through the years.  Being an Army BRAT has been an important and wonderful part of my life - especially my younger years. 

Today was a weird but wonderful day.  Peter came from the downtown office to interview us for our 1 year anniversary on Monday.  It is a nice article and hopefully we will be able to share it next week sometime.  We spent about 1 hour with him.  Then we ended up visiting with several of our office mates and catching up with people that we just haven't had a time to visit with for a while.  We spent over an hour and a 1/2 visiting today instead of camera time.  However it was an important part of what we do here.  Besides, we care about these people very much.  We only shot 3 books but one of the books was equivalent to more than 2 books - so we had a good day at work.

It has been a wonderful day.  I was visiting with Jeppe this morning and told him that my allergies have been really acting up lately.  He said they should be fine now there is no pollen.  I said that would be great but one of my sensitivities is to mold.  Bo said, "Then you will be blowing your nose until April - won't you?"  Made me laugh but yes I will.

Thankful Day 10:

Today I am grateful for a wonderful public transportation system that get us where we need to be.  Without a car, it is so nice to know we can get from here to there without too much trouble.

We made it through a full day of work today.  5 BIG books.  Felt good to be back at work.  Daniel and Lars told me they hoped we wouldn't miss anymore days because of illness.  So do I!

Thankful Day 9:

Today I am grateful for loving and very supportive family and friends in my life.  I have been blessed with loved ones that lift me, support and are just there when I need them.  I thank you all for your love.

Today Tomas Kofod spoke in Stake Conference.  He played 'Christ' in the first movie that was shown at the Joseph Smith building 18 years ago.  When he was set apart as Christ by Elder Neal A. Andersen (then of the 70), Tomas was told to pay attention to the little things.  While he as acting, there was a time when he passed a shepherd.  As the Savior, Tomas acknowledged the shepherd - just as Christ would have.  There was another situation where he helped a man collect fruit that he had dropped.  The script said to help and then move on BUT the man gave the fruit to the Savior and Tomas was prompted to accept it.  Receiving is Christlike.  His words were profound.  The talks today in Stake Conference were uplifting and brought peace to my soul.  I was so glad I was able to attend.  Now to be able to go a full day tomorrow.  I want to get back to work and complete the job the Lord has given us.

Thankful Day 8:

Today I am grateful for a cozy apartment and nice warm bed.  Still not feeling on top of the world BUT I am not feeling as awful as the last few days.
 
Clyde is at Stake Leadership Meeting and the first session of Stake Conference.  This will probably be our last stake conference here.  Interesting how things go.  I can't believe how fast time is flying for the most part.  Yesterday a man came to see the archives and Jeppe said we had been there for a year.  On November 17th is our anniversary.  What a joy this has been.

Everyone has been worried about Clyde and me.  Yesterday Lars was telling Clyde how glad he was to see him back.
Lars: Tell Rebecca I miss her and I hope she is well soon.
Clyde: She was here...
Lars:  She is here - where (and he started to go find me)
Clyde:  She is already at the bus stop.  I am headed there now.
Lars:  Oh, okay.  Tell her 'hi' for me. 
(I loved this exchange but the real reason Lars wants me back is because he wants me to make ham and bean soup as his 'mother-in-law' for the office.  That will have to happen in the next few weeks.)

Happy Birthday Mallory and Thankful Day 7

Happy Birthday, Mallory.  We hope you have a wonderful day and an incredible year.  We love you very much and miss you.

Today I am thankful that I could go back to work - at least part day.  I miss the guys in the office.  Jeppe came in to tell us that his little girl turned 4 today.  Her name is Ronja (Ronya).  She is quite a cutie from what we see and hear.  Mallory has a 'birthday sister' in Denmark.

 

 

Clyde went to the Dr. today and he is getting better.  I almost went to the Dr today but just didn't feel well enough to go.  I know that sounds weird but it is true.  There is no way I could have walked there and back.

Thankful Day 6

Today I am thankful for 11 beautiful grandchildren.  Our grandchildren are as beautiful within as they are in appearance.  We are very blessed.

I am home today while Clyde goes to work.  I am about 4 days behind him with this cold.  I am hoping tomorrow I am up for it but if not then Monday for sure.  It is Stake Conference this weekend and I would really like the energy to attend that.

I have been thinking about prayer for some reason today.  When I was a teenager, I would pray about everything.  I used prayer like a Genii in the bottle.  If I wanted something, I would pray for it - whether it was a new dress, our team to win, etc.  I left everything up to the Lord.  When I was in my 20's, there were times I didn't rely on the Lord enough.  I would get angry because of a miscarriage or Clyde not getting a job and basically throw a tantrum and say, 'I will do it myself'.  In my late 20's I finally found a balance that worked.  I said my prayers, did my personal scripture study every day and prayed about the big things in my life.  I have always known that the Lord loves me and knows me by name.  I tend to talk to the Lord like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.  Sometimes I just need to counsel with someone.  Other times there are secrets I have been asked to keep and I need to talk through the situation.  I will find myself discussing it with the Lord.  I don't expect great revelations but do know that the Lord will guide me in my decisions if I don't abuse the prayer and I am sincere in my hopes and requests.  It is great blessing to have a relationship with Heavenly Father.

Thankful Day 5

I am thankful for some of the best son-in-laws you have ever met.  A real blessing in our life and our extended family.

I am not feeling a whole lot better but Clyde is going to go to work tomorrow.  Hopefully he will last the whole day.

Thankful - Day 4

Today I am thankful for 4 beautiful daughters.  We have been very blessed to have such wonderful children.  We are proud of each of you and what you have done with your lives.

We are still plugging along.  Clyde is starting to wonder if he will ever feel better.  I told him we were doomed to feeling worthless and lifeless forever.  He grunted.  I keep hoping that we will wake up and be miraculously healed.  Instead I have been sleeping non-stop.  Oh well, sleep heals you.

On the 17th of November, the office staff are giving us a party for our 1 year anniversary.  I am amazed at how fast this year has gone.

Thankful Blogs

Every November for the last couple of years, I have blogged about what I am thankful for.  I somehow lost track of the month because of not being out and about.  I will list 3 things I am thankful for today and then move on from there.

Day 1 - I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission in Copenhagen Denmark.  This has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Day 2 - I am grateful for an eternal companion that loves me and supports me.  On the flip side, I am grateful for a companion that lets me love and support him.

I am grateful for doctors and Rx that help us get well.  Clyde's antibiotic regime has just been lengthened to 10 days instead of 7.  He will see the doctor again on Friday.

As I was writing this, our Branch President Henrik Olsen called to check on us.  What a wonderful Branch we have.  We are so blessed in so many ways,

As an update - we are both still feeling under the weather but are getting better.

Same Old...

If you want to know how we are, just read the posts from the last few days.  We are about the same.  I think I have a bit of fever but otherwise this cold has not been too bad.  Clyde still feels pretty crummy.  We will go to the DR tomorrow and see how he is doing.  He isn't wheezing as bad as past colds.  I count that as a blessing.

We watched the first session of the October Conference again today for church and just finished watching Music and the Spoken Word - live.  It was so inspiring.  We should probably listen to the Conference talks over and over until next conference.  All is well and I am looking forward to getting back to work this week.

A Foggy day in Copenhagen

We have been in a thick fog all day.  You could barely see across the street.  Not pleasant weather to be out in.  We did get a bit of shopping done and are ready for the weekend.  However, I have now gotten sick too.  I am terribly congested and my ears ache.  Not a good sign with me.  I have made arrangements for the things I need to do tomorrow because Church is not happening for either one of us tomorrow.  I was really looking forward to Church too.  We are going to a 2 1/2 hour schedule with Sacrament Meeting being 1 hour, Sunday School 30 minutes and RS/Priesthood for the last 45 minutes.  There are breaks in between meetings.  It should be interesting.

I am suddenly very woozy as my Grandma Tuttle would say.  I am dizzy sitting down - imagine what it would be like to stand up!