Week of December 14th

On our p-day we went into Stockholm to see the Christmas windows, like ZCMI used to do. They were darling and the street was not too crowded. The windows were at the exclusive NK store
and there was a rotating Christmas tree that could be seen from all four floors. We looked in other stores, street shops and then went to dinner at a food court. It was a fun evening.
We woke up to our first snow fall and it was absolutely beautiful. I would have made snow angels if I had the right clothes to wear!
At the temple this week there was a couple from Denmark. When they heard Chuck talk they could tell he was not from Sweden. It was Torben and Victoria Valgren from Amager,DK and in talking with them he was the branch president when Brent was in Denmark on his mission. What a fun connection and great people.
On Wed a couple (Bro and Sister Blindaruk) came from Lithuania to be sealed. He is 24 and she is 23. They are both return missionaries. He is from Lithuania and she is from Latvia and they don’t speak each other’s language so they communicate in English. He is the Branch President and she is the Relief Society of a branch of 300 with 80 active members. Because of the expense of coming to the temple they were only eating plain pasta for meals. So they were invited to our full time temple workers and employee’s Christmas dinner.
Our special friends we served with in the SL Temple Presidency gave us some money before we left to buy temple clothes for someone in need and the spirit prompted us that this was the couple. What a marvelous experience we had to taking them to the Distribution Center (after the dinner) and allowing them to have a full set of temple clothes to take home. They were like little children, full of excitement and could not stop smiling but so full of gratitude. A tender mercy experience from the Lord.
We went to a Stake Concert in Gubbängen and it was so impressive and professional. The missionaries were there and it was for members and friends. We have decided you have to be able to sing to be born in Sweden. After the concert it was snowing again, what a beautiful walk back to the train.
Sunday they changed our meeting schedule from 9:00 to 2:00 and we had a 1 ½ hr Sac. Meeting, Priesthood and Relief Society and then they had dinner for us in the cultural hall. We had open faced ham and cheese sandwiches, drink of juice and Risalamond (rice pudding).
Hot off the press! We have a new member in our family. Rowdey Charles Ke’Koa Rose born Dec 20 about 5:30p.m., 5lb 7oz and 181/2”. Details will come next week.
We wish all a Very Merry Christmas