WE are here! WE are here! We are here!

We have arrived and already bought a car.  It is so wonderful to be close to family again.  Now to just get over the jetlag.  So much to do but we have plenty of time to do it.  We will put this house in order just like we digitized all of the work we did in Denmark  - one click at a time.

Farvel Danmark

...we have enjoyed our stay in your beautiful country.  We have learned to love your people and many of your customs.  It has been a wonderful year and a half. 

Tomorrow morning bright and early we will head to a new adventure.  Only the Lord knows what is in store. 

God Be with you 'til we meet again...

I cried so hard at church that I have a headache.  I intended to take pictures and got none.  It was a hard day.  I love our little Branch as I love my family.  Knowing that I will probably not see most of them until the next life was really quite heart breaking.  It was nice to ride the bus though and know THAT was our last 1 hour commute to church.

I am not sure I can blog tomorrow.  It depends on how early I get up.  We have to send our internet receiver back in the morning so we will have to see.  I cannot believe that our mission is finished.  I doubt I will be sleeping much the next few nights just because I am running through my head all that needs to be done before we go. 

Heidi said that we will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting on the 17th of May.  It is the Manti 3rd ward and 9 a.m.  We will have a get together after the church block at the house.  I will even make my famous 8 bean barbecue 'chili'.  Love to see one and all.

Our Last Saturday in Denmark

Today we have cleaned clothes and finished the kitchen and bathroom.  Now all we have to do is the floors and dust.  Monday we will have to do some chasing around to get the internet box returned and get checked of our commune.  Tomorrow is church and so we will say goodbye to our church family then.

Last night we had dinner and Richard Andersen's home.  We had a chicken pot pie with lots of salad and fresh vegetables.  I ate most of the veggies.  For dessert we had what they called lemon fluff - a little more oomph to it than just pudding or whipped cream but still light and airy.  There were also 2 kinds of cheesecake and trifle made with spice cake, apples and lots of whipped cream.  The company was wonderful.  Elder Andersen is the one that took us out our full day here and got our furniture and checked into the commune.  I will always be grateful for his kindness.

Coming home is becoming more real

We just sent a suitcase and box to the Manti.  I cried after they went out the door.  We are truly leaving.  It is unreal to me that we are going.  We have done a bit more packing and cleaning.  Just like our mission being one click at a time - our move is going the same way.  I look forward to wrapping my arms around my family again in just a few days.

Our Last day at work

Here is a picture of our keys to the gate and city of Copenhagen.  The passes next to the keys are original antique passes that were issued in the late 1700's and early 1800's.  Our names are on them and everything.  The pillow is from a past princess in the Danish Monarchy and was borrowed from the Copenhagen City Museum to present these treasures to us on.

Mayor Ebbesen with Clyde and me in the entrance of the huge hall in the Raadhus called the 'town hall'.  Mayor Ebbesen apologized to me when he first arrived and said he would not be able to stay much past his speech.  He stayed almost to the end of the reception.  No one had every known him to do that kind of thing before.

Today we said goodbye to our family for the last 18 months.  I felt like I was saying goodbye to my sisters, sons and daughter.  The card the IT techs gave us with our gift said, "Dear Mom and Dad..."  It was a hard day but I didn't have my heart wrenching cry until I got home.  This has been a wonderful mission - the perfect mission for Clyde and me.  I hope we have served in a way pleasing unto our Heavenly Father and loving Savior.

The gift our 'children' gave  us from the IT department is a pillow with our archive family picture on it.  The silly picture on one side and the more serious picture on the other.  Perfect gift.  Bo said that every time we lay on it we will get a hug from them.  A great day.

A Busy day

Today we cleaned the oven, cleaned almost all of the kitchen cabinets and drawers and packed a box and suitcase we are shipping to Manti.  We made arrangements for a pick up on Friday.  We are now sorting through clothes and decided what we are taking what is staying behind.  As the suitcases are filling, I am realizing more and more how frivolous my decisions can be.  I have to be brutal and not sentimental.

Tomorrow is our last day at the archive.  We are having an archive family lunch with the famous open face sandwiches of Denmark.  It is going to be a sad - hard day.

The 'Raadhus' Reception

We had our reception at the Raadhus today and it was way over the TOP!  First of all there were 125 people there and I did know most all of them at least by sight.  It was about 1/2 LDS and 1/2 archive workers.  Jeppe and Elisabeth put together an incredible program.  The mayor gave us a wonderful tribute then the archive gave Clyde and I each keys to the city and the city gate and a pass so we can come to Copenhagen at anytime (it is basically a free pass to come in the gate).  We were given all sorts of gifts.  Royal Copenhagen ornaments and a beautiful set of Danish Modern clock, thermometer and barometer that I will have to find a place of honor in our new home.  Elisabeth was a bit concerned because the thermometer is in Celsius but I would not change a thing.  I could tell when I saw them that she had picked them out.  The other volunteers a the archive gave us some magnets of the city and the Stake President and Torbin (the person that sets up new work for Family Search) gave us gourmet chocolates.  Our sweet Vannessa gave us flowers and our Branch president gave us a picture book of Copenhagen that I will enjoy looking at with the grandchildren.

The food was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with Oreos and root beer.  They bought 24 cans of root beer and I don't think an American got one.  No one we knew had ever heard of root beer and they were intrigued.  Lars said it tasted like his grandmother smelled - whatever that means.  It was a wonderful, very overwhelming day.

Hang on - it's going to be a bumpy ride!

I slept very little last night and so I told Clyde I would come into work late.  He decided to sleep in too.  We were going to be working later anyway because we were having dinner with 2 couples from church.  It was a fun dinner and I am feeling calmer now.  We will go into work a bit later tomorrow too.  No sense in running completely out of work before we have too.  Tomorrow is our reception.  I keep myself awake by all of the 'to do's' I have and I am so afraid it isn't going to get accomplished.

Whiy is the sky so blue today...only because it's spring

It is absolutely gorgeous outside.  We have been in the low sixties today and it has been glorious.

We had opportunities to start saying goodbye.  It is hard to leave here because we do not know when or if we will ever be back or see these wonderful people again.  I cannot believe that next Sunday is our last Sunday here.  I am so glad we won't have to do that commute ever again.  I am awfully tired of waiting for buses.

Procrastination

I came home yesterday and felt awful.  I made Clyde find something for his dinner.  I thought I was feeling better this morning but after we had finished shopping I was exhausted.  I have slept most of the day and just came back from a short walk around the block.  The sun is pretty intense and I did not want to get a sunburn on top of everything else.

There is so much to do and I keep putting it off.  My emotions are all jumbled up.  I can't decide if I should be excited about going home or devastated at leaving such dear friends here.  I have to get things in order and just do not want to do it.  It is going to get to be next Saturday and will be up until midnight getting things done!

On the go all day

This morning at 8, Chris Norton met with us, Jeppe and Elisabeth about the future assignments for the Ottley's.  It was a very busy but productive morning.

At 1p.m. a group of women came from the Denmark Stake Family History Centers and learned what the State Archives had to offer.

At 4p.m. we went to Jeppe and Sabrina's home for dinner and had a wonderful evening again with them.  Ronja was not feeling good and by the time we left she was running a fever and had put herself to bed.  Pray the we do not get sick until long after we get home!  We still have scripture study to do - so good night until tomorrow.

Another blustery day

I didn't blog yesterday because we spoke with the Ottley's (our replacement couple) on Skype for over 2 hours.  I had a migraine anyway so I just went to bed.

We had a good day today.  Tomorrow is going to be super busy.  Chris Norton - our supervisor with family Search - is coming in to see us to say goodbye tomorrow.  In the afternoon a group of Sisters from the Family History Center in the Copenhagen Stake are coming to see us and then tomorrow evening we are going to go and have dinner with Jeppe and his family again.  I sure hope I am not as tired tomorrow as I have been today.

We now have our time and date with the Mission President for our exit interview.  Time is flying.

A 'Blowsy' Day

My grandson, Dane Davis, makes words up.  If it is a blustery day - it is a blowsy day.  Today was very blowsy.  I thought about him a lot.

We got 1800 images done today.  It was a good day.  Now to clean up the apartment for our Skype visit with the Ottley's tomorrow evening.

On a Wonderful Day like today...

That song has been going through my mind every morning for the last week.  I love warm weather and Spring!  I can even handle rain and wind when it is warmer.

At church today, a sister asked if we received permission from the Branch to go home.  I hugged her and told her a part of my heart will always be with the Branch.  I am glad the I regenerate so well - otherwise there would be nothing of me left because I keep leaving bits and pieces of my heart and mind every time we move.  No wonder I can't remember anything anymore!

It was a beautiful day at Church and in our classes.  It has just simply been a beautiful and spiritual Sabbath day.

Danish Museum of Design

Our camera is being awful and has decided the memory card is corrupt - after we took a bunch of pictures at the museum today. 

The museum was incredible.  I had never realized how much Danish design affected my life nor how much I love it.  We spent almost 2 1/2 hours wandering around in there.  My knees are really sore because a front is coming in but other than that it was wonderful.  It has been a wonderful day.  We are amazed at how crowded the streets were.  Everyone is out enjoying the sun.

I cannot believe that we will spend 2 more Saturdays and then head home.  Time is flyin

Another Friday Party

Today we said goodbye to Kristian - the former head of the archive.  It was just our group and was really nice.  Kristian is the one that brought Family Search to Denmark.  We are glad he did,

I made banana bread for the archive for the Wednesday morning meeting.  Yesterday Lars had 6 pieces with Nutella and whipped cream on them.  He told me he had a sugar high all day yesterday.  He likes banana bread but they way he fixed it was over the top.

Elisabeth said that no more people can come to our reception.  The capacity is 135 and we have that many coming now.  Everyone else will be turned away.  Interesting how things work.  I think they are coming to see the Raadhus and not us though.

Tomorrow we are going to the Design Museum of Denmark.  I am excited about it.

More Pictures from Easter Monday

After we spent the morning and early afternoon at Little Mermaid and down on the harbor, we went to Tivoli.  This is a picture of a Military Academy that dresses like  the Queen's Guard here. They were really very good.  We have a video but it won't let me upload it. 

Fields of Tulips.  This reminds me of Holland this time of year.

Jeppe has decided no coffee or alcohol for our reception in honor of our beliefs.  He came in later and said that he was astonished at how much farther your money goes when you eliminated alcohol and coffee.  Jeppe has invited us to Dinner next week.  We will firm up plans tomorrow.

For about 2 hours, Lars was the only one in the office.  Jeppe came in and they both said the were thrilled with all of the work they got done.  Tomorrow is a Pizza Party to say goodbye to Krisitan - our former archive director.

A Most Fascinating Day

Today was not the most productive day we have ever had because of the interruptions.  We visited with the two new young men - Jens and Anders, as they came in.  Jeppe had some concerns and suggestions and then Elisabeth sat down to visit several times.  We may not have captured 2000 images but we did make memories.

Anders is a historian.  He was born right on the Danish/German border and speaks German better than his English (which is excellent).  He came in very excited because there is comprehensive Danish History that fills a book shelf - that has now been digitized.  In it are several pages about the Mormon Missionaries coming and 'recruiting' thousands of Danes.  I told him over 24000 went to Utah.  The write up was very flattering.  He asked me about Joseph Smith and I was able to bear my testimony about the First Vision.  It was quite amazing.  He later came in and said that he was told by the other IT guys that we did not mind interruptions.  I told him we did not.  I am looking forward to what other tidbits he comes up with to share.  He lives by the Copenhagen Temple and said he has never met an LDS member he has not liked.  I am quite impressed with this young man and look forward to spending the next 2 weeks with him.

Brookes just called and wanted to know if we would go to an outdoor museum with them on Saturday.  Looking forward to that.

A Day at the Archive

These are a bit out of order - this should be picture #2.  On the clear glass panels beside each office in our end of the building are images etched into the glass.  This is the 'bull' from the cave drawings in France.  It is Jeppe and Bo's office (and now Anders.  His computer is the one closest to the front.

This is the Conference Room.  The bones signify prehistoric man.  Anni did all of these.  This should be #1.

This represents the Gutenberg Press.  This is Mads and Lars office.

This is the lunch room and represents the 'computer age'.  I took the pictures before anyone got in so I would not be capturing images that I shouldn't show.  We have 12 work days left.  Wow!

Easter Monday

We had so much fun today.  We went with Jim and Norma Brookes and saw the Little Mermaid again and then Kristina - a statue dedicated to an LDS members great+ grandmother.  This is Mercury or Hermes.  - you can tell by all of the wings.

Neptune or Poseidon - fitting since the Little Mermaid is in the next cove.

Kristina - there is a little sculpture of this statue in one of the chapels in our stake.  This is the same artist that did the Handcart sculpture we took a picture of last summer.  It is dedicated to all of the LDS immigrants that went to be with the other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah.  Over 20,000 Danes left Denmark for the 'Zion.'

We had so much fun with Jim and Norma and I will post more about the trip tomorrow.  We  have a partial week this week and then a full week next week and another partial - then we are finished.  So hard to believe that the time is so short that we have to be here.

Happy Easter 2015

We have had a wonderful Sabbath.  We have watched the Saturday Afternoon Session and the Priesthood Session.  It has been very uplifting.  We will watch our final session of the day - the Sunday Morning session -live.  I look forward to watching October Conference live.  It is hard to have to string the sessions out like this but I am so grateful that we have to opportunity to listen. 

My favorite talk so far is Wilfred W. Andersen's talk about music and dancing.  It made me so grateful for the Gospel 'music' I hear in my soul of the truthfulness of the Gospel.  It did make me sad that there were dissenters during the sustainings.  I have 'dissented' before but I have done it in private and spoke of my concerns with the Stake President before ward conference and at my temple recommend interview.  I told him that I would not raise my hand in support or opposition because I had spoken to him about it.  That is the only time I have ever felt that I just could not support someone.

As I listened to some of the talks, I thought about my Grandpa Brugger.  A year before he passed away, Clyde and I went to visit him.  Grandpa was completely blind at this point but he had a Book of Mormon on his lap and his finger on a verse.  I said, "Grandpa, what are you reading?"  He said, "I am reading King Benjamin's Address."  I looked down and he was and this book was not in braille.  I asked my cousin's David and Mark if they set it up so he looked like he was reading.  They said, "No.  Grandpa does know his Book of Mormon that well."  You could feel that Holy Spirit in that room that day.  It was like being in the temple.  I knew that Grandpa's time was short after that visit.  I will always remember his example of a sincere love of the Gospel.  My Grandma Sarah was the same way.  Even with her mind shutting down in her last years, she loved the scriptures and the Gospel.  She frequently would tell us that the Gospel was her most treasured gift.

General Conference

Today and tomorrow will be easy going days.  It is General Conference tonight (we will watch the first session at 6 p.m. tonight) and then tomorrow we will watch 3 sessions with the last session on Monday.  I love Conference.  This is when I make my goals and renew my decisions.  It is going to be great.

Good Friday 2015

I am laughing because 'Acuweather' that we look at to see the weather here, says that it is snowing.  Now you know why we call it In-acuweather.  It is 47 degrees and the sun is shining.  I don't know anywhere in Denmark that it is snowing!

We went to the temple this morning with Jim and Norma Brookes - our fellow Family Search missionaries here in this Zone.  We always enjoy getting together.  On Monday we will go and see the Little Mermaid again and a statue called 'Christina' that is a tribute by an LDS artist that cast her.  His great-great-grandmother was Christina and as a young girl she went to Utah.

It has been a good day.  Clyde is literally being a couch potato and sleeping in the sun on our little love seat.  He can curl up in the smallest spaces.  I used to be able to but not anymore.  I figure that in the next year or so I will the 'Bionic Woman'. 

Maundy Thursday

Today is a holiday in Denmark.  It is the beginning of the Easter Weekend.  It is 'Holy Thursday' and commemorates the Last Supper.  No one really knows why they celebrate Easter in Denmark.  No one goes to church but the LDS.

We started going through drawers and packing things away.  The time is drawing to a close quickly.

An Easy Going day

We were off from work today and it was glorious.  No headache or congestion.  Hadn't realized the toll the books are taking on me.

We went shopping for groceries - since tomorrow everyone goes on Easter hours.  Pretty much all retail centers will be closed Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.  Saturday the stores will be open but at shortened hours. 

It was a good day.  We are not trying to decide what to mail home, throw out or carry home.  It is interesting to say the least.