Rex in center of Stockholm early December!
Vicky and Brian Monson, our from from the USA.
Vicky and Birgitta Ameln, my wonderful Swedish friend!
Rex and Vicky in the foot of snow we got in November 2008! This is just outside our apartment.
Our Thanksgiving group.What a GREAT Thanksgiving Day! If we couldn’t be home with family and friends, then it was nice sharing our day with some wonderful missionaries here in Sweden. Everyone brought something and we had lots of salads, meat, rolls, desserts, etc. We got a nice group picture after the meal. Before we ate, there was a district meeting with some outstanding talks on gratitude.
Yesterday was the Mission Home Open House that President and Sister Anderson hosted. I went to help with the food preparation on Tuesday and learned how to make Swedish meatballs like the Swedes make. We also went out early yesterday to help set everything up. A light buffet was served with some fabulous food. Little shrimp cups were our favorite, and some small Aram sandwiches. Elder Thunell has put together a history of the Church here in Sweden.
We received our Christmas package from our family. Ryan and Heather sent three paper trees that we can decorate with ornaments from our family. The ornaments have love notes and family pictures on them. It makes me happy to look on our wall and see the love and support from family. There are packages that begin with the 12 Days of Christmas. What fun!!! Since we can’t be home, this is truly a special way to feel the love of our family. I am looking forward to the rest of the love notes and ornaments for the trees. This will be a memorable Christmas!
Most all the snow is melted now. It has been in the high 30’s the past two days. Tonight was a wonderful evening at the home of Klaus and Monica Bernpaintner. They attended MBA School at Wharton in PA and knew Tonja and John Wade real well. Monica fixed the most fantastic Thanksgiving dinner and invited us and 4 elders over. They have 3 very nice children who attend a school here that focuses on singing and music. We heard them perform at the UN Family Day this past May and WOW! Are they impressive!
There are many wonderful things that I love about Sweden, but I found out that Swedes do not use a single handed hole punch. I have looked for 3 hours today for a paper hole punch but found nothing. When I am so used to certain things from America, it is frustrating not to be able to find it here. There are a few things so different: Swedes do not eat dressing on their salad – they eat them just plain. They do not add any sugar to their whipping cream – it is just plain and no flavor. They do not have any chocolate chips. I have to chop up chocolate bars if I want chocolate pieces in anything. Their salsa is not what Rex would call salsa. They don’t have Pam spray. They don’t have dryer sheets so your clothes won’t cling. These are just a few of the things that are different and hard to adjust to. However, they do just fine without all these things. Life goes on!
We left our apartment at 8 a.m. to go to the temple. We were able to help with the first session and then we hurried over to the chapel nearby to prepare and serve lunch to President and Sister Anderson along with the 9 new elders and sisters who just arrived yesterday to begin their mission here in Sweden. They still have that “deer in the headlight look” with lack of sleep and overwhelmed with the language, etc. We have 6 new sisters and 3 new elders. After cleaning up we went back to help with the last session at the temple.
After finishing our sessions, we went to dinner with Elder and Sister Hanson, who are here on a temple recording mission. This is their 3rd mission in the past 6 years. We hurriedly went to the train and attended our Key City Council meeting after dinner. We have the greatest council to work with. Each person has a strength that enhances the entire group. It was 10:30 p.m. when we arrived home after a long, wonderful day!
Sunday was fantastic! The testimonies were so touching and inspirational. Ryan and Laura Koch, from the US Embassy, invited us to dinner this afternoon. They have a 4 year old daughter, a 2 year old son, and she is expecting a little boy in January. We offered to babysit for them when they want to go to the temple. It would give me an opportunity to be a grandma with my own precious grandchildren so far away.
Most all the snow is melted now. It has been in the high 30’s the past two days. Tonight was a wonderful evening at the home of Klaus and Monica Bernpaintner. They attended MBA School at Wharton in PA and knew Tonja and John Wade real well. Monica fixed the most fantastic Thanksgiving dinner and invited us and 4 elders over. They have 3 very nice children who attend a school here that focuses on singing and music. We heard them perform at the UN Family Day this past May and WOW! Are they impressive!
There are many wonderful things that I love about Sweden, but I found out that Swedes do not use a single handed hole punch. I have looked for 3 hours today for a paper hole punch but found nothing. When I am so used to certain things from America, it is frustrating not to be able to find it here. There are a few things so different: Swedes do not eat dressing on their salad – they eat them just plain. They do not add any sugar to their whipping cream – it is just plain and no flavor. They do not have any chocolate chips. I have to chop up chocolate bars if I want chocolate pieces in anything. Their salsa is not what Rex would call salsa. They don’t have Pam spray. They don’t have dryer sheets so your clothes won’t cling. These are just a few of the things that are different and hard to adjust to. However, they do just fine without all these things. Life goes on!
We left our apartment at 8 a.m. to go to the temple. We were able to help with the first session and then we hurried over to the chapel nearby to prepare and serve lunch to President and Sister Anderson along with the 9 new elders and sisters who just arrived yesterday to begin their mission here in Sweden. They still have that “deer in the headlight look” with lack of sleep and overwhelmed with the language, etc. We have 6 new sisters and 3 new elders. After cleaning up we went back to help with the last session at the temple.
After finishing our sessions, we went to dinner with Elder and Sister Hanson, who are here on a temple recording mission. This is their 3rd mission in the past 6 years. We hurriedly went to the train and attended our Key City Council meeting after dinner. We have the greatest council to work with. Each person has a strength that enhances the entire group. It was 10:30 p.m. when we arrived home after a long, wonderful day!
Sunday was fantastic! The testimonies were so touching and inspirational. Ryan and Laura Koch, from the US Embassy, invited us to dinner this afternoon. They have a 4 year old daughter, a 2 year old son, and she is expecting a little boy in January. We offered to babysit for them when they want to go to the temple. It would give me an opportunity to be a grandma with my own precious grandchildren so far away.
The Mission Home Open House was tonight. I took my dear friend, Birgitta Ameln from the apartment. She was deeply touched by the feeling she felt as we were in the Mission Home. She was impressed with the sisters and elders too. Before we left, the sisters and elders sang Christmas Carols to everyone. Then we all joined in to sing more songs. It was truly an uplifting, joyous evening. Birgitta thanked us several times for taking her. I must admit, the entire evening was just “jattabra” (GREAT)! And life in Sweden continues to be a huge blessing in our lives.
1 comment:
Such neat things to read! Especially touched that the Open House turned out so wonderful and that your new friend was able to attend!
Interesting to read about some of the things Swedes don't have that we use quite frequently here. Drier sheets, I love drier sheets...do you need me to send you some??
Loved hearing that your family is taking care of you long-distance. The 12 days of Christmas and the paper trees/ornaments sound soooo neat!
Merry Christmas! Enjoy this beautiful season!
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