Today we start our Easter Break

Today we were informed that we start our Easter break tomorrow.  There will be no one at the archive - so the alarm will be set.  We will get our shopping done for the week tomorrow because Thursday and Friday all of the stores will be closed.  On Saturday, stores will be open for a limited time and then closed again until Tuesday the 7th.  Easter is a bigger deal here than Christmas.

Anders started work today as the archive historian.  He is also going work on the presentation the archive is doing for us.  We had no idea it would end up being this big a deal.  We were told by and one of our stake reps that Elder Olsen - our area authority from Sweden has also been invited.  To me, he is a bigger deal than the American Ambassador.  Interesting how our perspective changes things.

Stefan is gone.  I hugged him and told him I was proud of him.  He told me that he would be at our reception.  I am so proud of him.

On the way to the archive and then some

On our way from bus 10 to bus 250, we pass this statue.  It is a statue honoring those that fought in the Civil War here in Denmark.  It was the war that decided the make up of Denmark to this day.  What is the northern part of Germany was once Danish but they had an uprising and rebelled.  Interesting that their war here was fought the same time as the US Civil War.  However instead of being united as we eventually were, they were forever divided. 

This statue is supposed to depict brothers supporting brothers.  It is an interesting statue.  Their uniforms look like the ones from the Civil War in the US.

This get-up only lasted one day.  I still wear the apron occasionally but the gloves I wear every day.  I got such a headache behind the mask I had to go home early.  Turns out you are supposed to only stay behind the mask 20 minutes and then take the mask off for 10-15 minutes.  That is just too much wasted time.  I am doing better now BUT the books are not as bad as those were.

It was quiet in the archive today.  It was just Daniel and Stefan.  Tomorrow is Stefan's last day.  I hope he has a good life.

'Summertime' Sunday

We sprung forward for 'Summertime' here in Denmark.  When the sun comes up at 3 in the morning w/o the change - at least we get one more hour of darkness before the dawn.

Church was good.  They painted the downstairs yesterday and the fumes were so bad, they were making me sick - so I came home a bit early.

On the bus was a mother and her 2 sons.  She rides quite frequently with us and the boys names are Alexander and Olaf.  Alexander is about 3 and Olaf is less than a year.  Alexander always jumps on the bus and runs to the back of the bus.  He then announces to his mother that he is there and safe.  She has to stay up front with the buggy and Olaf.  We have ridden with them off and on for most of the time we have been here.  Olaf must have been sick or teething because for the first time ever he cried.  He was hysterical by the time we got off at Mozarts Plads.  While we waited for bus 10, the mother walked the buggy up and down the path, while Alexander collected beer bottle caps.  Olaf finally fell asleep as the bus came.  She thanked me as she got off the bus for not telling her how to raise her boys.  I heard some other older people complaining about the noise.  Sometimes children HAVE to cry.

We are off to the Sederholm's for dinner to say 'farvel' to the Middlemas'.  I will miss them

Happy Birthday Heather

Today is our Heather Lou's birthday.  It was kind of a scary day when she was born.  I found out my father and doctor were both concerned about my health as well as hers.  Fortunately - even though she was 6 weeks early, all was well in. 

We hope your have a wonderful birthday and look forward to seeing you soon.

A very successfull day!

Today was a BIG day.  I made chili for everyone in the archive.  Then we had Stefan's goodbye party.  There were 2 kinds of cakes, blueberry and gooseberry/mandarin orange cake.  They made a vanilla cream and folded a lot of whipped cream into it and then added the fruit jam and served it with a white cake and topped with a picture made from marshmallow and surrounded with more whipped cream.  By the way - my pot of chili fed all 20 people at community lunch with seconds and thirds for many.  Above is me at the top and next to me is Anni and then Mona.  They have been very good friends to us during our stay here.  Anni is my age and the person that does all of the restoration on the books for us.

Stefan is holding the sword and Bo is talking.  They were trying to pop the cork off of champagne bottles with the sword.

Mikkel and Stefan changed places and Mikkel tried to knock the cork off.  All that happened was the champagne got so shaken up - it created a big fountain when they did get it off (by hand).  Clyde and I had sparkling water along with one other young lady.  Jeppe didn't even ask her if what is what she wanted - he just presented a glass to her.  Kristian was there (our old archive boss) and accepted a glass of champagne and then changed his mind to 'Dansk Vand' (sparkling water).

My dear friend Elisabeth.  She has truly been like a sister while we have been here.  I will really miss her.  In the front corner is Ulla - one of the volunteers that works in the archive.

Clyde calls this 3 women in profile.  I am going to miss these people.

Mads being Mads.  He the guy in the blue shirt with his thumbs up.  Clyde and Helge are in the background to the left and Cardston is sitting next to Mads with his ever present camera.

Stefan listening to a tribute to him.  He really has been a sweetheart to work with.  Lars is in the white and blue striped jacket and Pernille is next to him.  Mads fixed Pernille's hair so that it looked like Princess Leia's from Star Wars (the theme of the party).

Mads on the far left as Stefan thanks Kristian for a tie for work.  Stefan has to wear collared shirts and a tie at his new office.  He can wear jeans as long as the pressed and creased.  Ulla is in the front left and our dear Jeppe is in the back on the far right.

On the way home our bus was taking forever to get down our street.  There had a been an accident with 1 car catching on fire.  There were 2 fire engines, 3 ambulance and a multitude of police officers.  We got off a stop early and were glad we did.  Heaven only knows how long it would have taken to get home if we hadn't.  Even then we were 20 minutes later than usual.  It has been a good day and I am tired.

The archive is thinking of inviting...

...the US ambassador to Denmark to our reception next month.  I think that is a bit over the top but whatever.  Clyde and I are just scratching our heads about this.  We really just wanted a few people to say a proper goodbye.

We got 7 books done today.  It was a really good day over all.  I bought the stuff for chili tomorrow.  Should be a fun time for all.

Danish "Family" Pictures

Today Mads and Jeppe came up with the great idea of taking a picture of everyone in the IT family for a 'family' picture.  Stefan leaves on Tuesday and we leave in less than a month.  Mads, Jeppe and Frederick scouted out for a location and at 11:30 we all headed out and had 20 minutes of laughing and having fun.  I sat down on the bench with Pernille and then Lars sat beside Pernille and Frederick sat by me and put his arm around me.  He refused to move for Clyde.  We giggled and laughed and had an amazing time.  Here - you say applesin (apple-seen) for pictures.  I told them we said cheese but in our family we say 'Texas'.  It was so much fun.  I really am going to miss these guys when we leave BUT I have promises from several of them that they will come and visit us.  That will be a fun treat to share with our personal family.

Jeppe's grandmother passed away yesterday at noon.  He is very sad but realizes it is a blessing she does not have to suffer anymore.  He told me he as finding great peace in the April Liahona. 

We did the last of the horribly moldy books.  The next series looks good.  We did 4 large books today with almost 6 hours of work. 

I have quit talking an antihistamine and I no longer want to punch everyone out.  Nice to know it was an easy fix.