Saturday, October 31, 2015

All Gone

Today was the last of our scheduled youth baptismal groups.  We have had thousands of ordinances done in the last three weeks.  Today the youth from the Malmo Stake came and over half of the ordinances were their own family cards.   While we have been busy inside, Mother Nature has been busy outside.
October 16, 2015
 October 23, 2015
 October 31, 2015.....All gone.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Technology Trauma

We lost the internet at the temple for the first half of the day. And our screens in the office all looked like this.

 That wasn't the traumatic part, without the internet we  couldn't record ordinances, people couldn't get their cards printed, and the session had to be stopped half way through.  Jim finished it by reading it.  Which some people found a really special experience.  W cancelled the second session, but had overflow in the ordinances that  didn't require the internet.
    Thanks to prayers, help from Salt Lake and a good substitute technician, we were up and working for the last three sessions. It was good as we had Maria Petersen coming for her own endowment, and it was the last day of the Germans' visit.
   All ended well and we were grateful for Heavenly Help as well as all the others that patiently waited and worked.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Such a Thursday!

We went to the kitchen for breakfast and saw this outside our window....Keep in mind, we live on the fourth floor....
 This is how it looked going to the temple. Apparently he was fixing a broken window.
But this sight was even more fun...25 youth from Stockholm on a temple trip to do baptisms. Yes, Stockholm does have a temple, but traveling away makes it all the more fun.

We ended the day with three new endowments.  That is a record for us. The endowment session was also the largest we have had ,51 and 9 turned away.  Elisabeth Hojholt is going on a mission to Malaga Spain. Sarah Paulen is getting married and Elizabeth Andersen her good friend has come back to the church and they wanted to come to the temple together.  It really was a fantastic day, long, but fantastic.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Koch's Adventures

 Last night we kept up our Tuesday social schedule and went to Kochs' for the monthly missionary dinner.  The boiled ham they do here in Denmark is really excellent.  Lisa had also made homemade creamed kale, fabulous.
 Afterward we watched a "slide" show of their terrific 3 week adventure in South America.  They visited all the major spots in Bolivia and Peru and had a great time.

x

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Seafood Social


Tom invited us for a lovely Italian dinner town down today.
 Everyone ordered the seafood spaghetti, which tasted great, but the appearance was a little unsettling.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Autumn Leaves

I have enjoyed the Fall colors more this year than usual.  When the sun comes out and brightens the leaves, it is quite the show.
   I rode through this green path today, just to see what was going on.



Sunday, October 25, 2015

Ruth

Ruth Hammerlund is one of our special Danish connections. She was baptized when we were here ten years ago and came every week to Family Home Evening with the missionaries.  We were in the temple a year later with her when she was sealed to her deceased husband.  We have sat by her every Sunday in church until we were moved into the Gladsaxe 2nd Ward.  So we stopped on our way home from church to visit her today.  She has been ailing with a bad leg.  It was a good visit and she is doing great for being in her 88th year.


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Fall Back

Tonight, Europe goes off Day Light Savings Time and we fall back an hour.  It was cloudy today and dark by 5.30.  Tomorrow that will be 4.30.     We had two special sealing sessions at 2.30.  Both were groups living at least 3 hours away. Tonight they will get home before dark, but not tomorrow night......

I took this picture as I went to the temple this morning.  We will enjoy the light on that end of the day for a while.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Change in the Air

While the wind whistled outside taking the leaves off the trees, we were busy and happy inside the temple doing work for thousands.   It was a good day. Our group from Germany plus many others came.  We have received word that two of the German Stakes have been temporarily assigned to our temple district. Which is great because we can then call workers from them.  One stake has already scheduled a shuttle bus for the first Saturday of every month to come to the temple. This week's experience has showed us that there is definitely a change coming.  We are excited.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Autumn on the Lakes

Since we were in the temple all day today, the pictures are from yesterday when I took a quick bike trip down to the lakes.  This restaurant/wedding center has been  there for years and is landmark from which I can always find my way home.
 I was hoping to get the colors on the trees, but mainly found the swans R and R center. Several of the signets were there.  They are still a mottled brown and white.



Wednesday, October 21, 2015

More Saints from Tyskland

We had a busload of saints from the Neumunster Stake in Germany arrive to do temple work today.  There are about 50 for baptisms plus adults for  sessions.  They will be here through Saturday.

 Heike, the lady in the red scarf, went through the temple for the first time today.  She was baptized just 15 months ago.  The missionaries knocked on her door and she said she just knew what they were saying was true.  She had a very good experience. Thank goodness for Ellen McKnight, whom I called late last night because she speaks German.  She came in from Sweden today to help out.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Missionary Couples

The monthly missionary dinner at the Knudsons has turned into two missionary dinners.  There are so many couples now as well as the surge in young missionaries, it takes two nights.
 The Taylors, Manwarings,and Hansens plus the Ravn-Petersens who are also serving as temple missionaries for three months, all attended.
 There are two archival missionary couples: the Brooks and Ottleys and then Warnsdorfs and Buxtons from the mission office.
Delicious as usual.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Halloween at Tivoli

Tivoli opens for three weeks in October decked out in her Halloween finery.  They put up all new little houses and shops that work well for the holiday markets.  We invited Elder and Sister Brooks with their Gold Pass and his ride pass, we had our Gold Pass and then we chipped in 10 k.each and all 12 of us were able to get in.
 The Ravn-Petersens are here from Aalborg on a 3 month mission. They are staying in an apartment  down on the lakes we just got back from the mission.
 This clever "magic" pitcher fountain was among the fun decorations.
 These were huge pumpkins.  The largest was over 700 pounds.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Last Talk

Today was our last High Council speaking assignment.  We were in the Slagelse Ward.  They have a very nice chapel and some great people we see often at the temple.  It really has been nice to go to the various wards and branches this year and meet the people.  I've talked on "Slagen pÃ¥ Stangen" - the snakes on poles that our leaders put up to warn us and protect and bless us.  I am a firm believer in Family Home Evenings, Family Scripture Study/Prayer and Family History/Temple work.
 Slagelse is about an hour away and the leaves were jut turning.

 It was a misty, rainy day, but still a lovely drive, except for the traffic jam coming into Copenhagen..

The trees on the Warnsdorf's street are also turning.  We had a lovely dinner there tonight with the missionaries.
Irma  sets such a beautiful table.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

We Survived!

  Week 42 is over and we did survive.  It was a long week with long hours and many wonderful opportunities and wonderful people to meet and work with.  Our missionary couples: Taylors, Manwarings, and Hansens were real troopers running the baptistry through the week.  Mette Paulsen and Liz Loeve Andersen came in to help.  All the groups had great adult help as well.
   This morning we had a darling family from Germany come to be sealed and to have their 10 year old son sealed to them,  They have been members for two years and were so thrilled. The boy was especially pleased we had people who could speak German.  I didn't get a picture because I was taking care of an older sister from Sweden receiving her own endowment., who also had a great good experience.
    To celebrate we all went to Marion and Steve Clawsons' for the High Priest Activity.  They can move us from the ward, but we have maintained the right to come to the parties....
 


 

Friday, October 16, 2015

The Germans are Coming

Both temples in Germany are closed for repairs and renovations.  This means that many of the German saints are coming to Copenhagen for the temple.  Today we had a group from the Berlin YSA.  It took them 7 hours, including two on the ferry. A lovely group and most spoke some English.  We also had two of our younger workers who speak fluent German on hand.

 Two missionaries we knew from the MTC were among the group.  So nice to see them again.

It was a perfect day to be in the temple all day...rain, rain, rain.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Heat

Most of the apartments and public buildings in Danish cities are heated via hot water that runs out of central heating plants and eventually  into room radiators.  It is turned off in the spring and on in the fall.  The trick is getting the weather to cooperate with the set dates for the turn on and all the pipes in the whole building, particularly those in the apartments below you working.  We have been fussing with ours for a couple of weeks, and the temple is still cold.
 The radiators in the front room are only luke warm.
 
 But, thankfully, the ones in the kitchen are good and hot.  Wonder if we can just live in our 6X6 space there....

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Darling Danes

I finally manged to get a picture of the last group from Aarhus.  These are the 12-13 year old girls.  They were all darling and will hopefully be back in 8 to 10 years preparing for missions or marriage.
I spoke to all of the youth in English and I think most understood,...or at least pretended.  The hugs and handshakes were a universal language.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Week 42

We made it through day one of Week 42.  Aarhus Stake brought 96 youth plus leaders and did baptisms in 4 groups from 9-5.  I wish I could have taken pictures in the temple as many of them sat holding their family cards to be baptized and confirmed for.  On top of that they were so reverent and the leaders well-organized.  It was a good day




.
 Since I knew we would be putting in 12 plus hour days, I have prepared a couple of soups to come home to at night.  




Monday, October 12, 2015

Ready for Fall

Fall has arrived as witnessed by the new Fall Plantings on the temple grounds.

We spent the day getting the temple ready to open tomorrow for the youth from Aarhus Stake.coming to do baptisms.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Home Review

Our trip home was filled with appointments and family fun.
 Temple Square was beautiful. We walked through on our way to the wonderful  new exhibit at the Church History and Art Museum.
 We had many dinners together, but also tried to find time to connect with for each family individually for a few hours.
 The weather was perfect for a Sunday afternoon walk after conference., the children ran ahead...But this picture is for the mountain view.
 We had a super Family Night with short musical videos from each family, fun and clever.,

 Went to see the witches at Garner Village....


 Decorated Halloween cookies...thanks Elizabeth.
And enjoyed our annual Sweet Tomatoes outing.
A great trip home and we are now geared up and excited for another year!