Week of April 19th

Monday is usually a down and relax day. We usually eat a late breakfast and plan not too much. This week Pres and Syster Evensen asked us if we would like to go to Maxi grocery shopping. That is like going to Costco! While we were there we actually bought Chuck two short sleeve shirts.
All the American couples went to the Krus’ for dinner.
He is in our bishopric and she is the one who tended Bryan when he was little. It was really a good dinner and we laughed and had a good time. The table was very crowded with 8 Americans but no one cared. We have made some great friends here.
It is great to be back to the temple and feel the love, strength and peace within those sacred walls. We helped the new shift leaders, Bror and Syster Kämäräinen, to know their responsibilities and now it is our opportunity to do the ordinances again. What a blessing these ordinances are. This week in the temple we had a wedding (the bride was beautiful) and two young people come for the first time. One of the girls who came for the first time is the finance of Martin Carlberg a missionary that served in Greece with Chuck’s cousin Sybil and her husband Steve Cory. This darling couple will return on 12 June for their wedding.
It is a good thing we have a black blind on the bedroom window because it is now light about 5:00 and almost dark about 20.30 (8:30). It is much warmer outside and the little flowers are beginning to bloom in the grass, the woods and along the side of the roads.
We have several flower pots around the temple grounds and they are going to plants the flowerbeds this week.
Chuck has a security class to teach to the temple security personal so he has spent time preparing for it. It is hard when they say tell us some experiences!
On Saturday we went to the ‘Pub’ with the Evensen’s for pizza and then to the Adult Session of Stake Conference. It was held in our building and it was full. Their theme was Prayer, Scripture, and Temple and the Blessings of Temple Attendance and encouragement to those less active to return. One thought I liked was “Nothing wrong comes from the Lord. If it is negative it comes from another source”.
Sunday’s session of Stake Conference was held at the Aula Magna on the Stockholm University campus. We traveled by cars as it is too far to walk if we went by train. Again the meeting was focused on the family and our responsibilities of prayer, scriptures, temple attendance, teaching our children the gospel and preparing to live with our Heavenly Father
and Christ again. “Just as earthly parents leave the light on and watch out the window for their children to return home so is our Heavenly Father watching out His window for signs that we will return.” We enjoyed the meetings and seeing so many people who serve in the temple or come as patrons. These are wonderful people here in Sweden.
A couple of other thoughts – Don’t judge until you know everything, we will never know everything SO don’t judge – We receive blessings for being obedient – Attending the temple regularly gives us spiritual strength to meet our earthly trials.
We are so blessed with a wonderful family that supports and loves us; with great friends and neighbors who support and love us; for health, strength and protection; and for the blessing of serving the Lord here is Sweden and in His Holy House. Oh how blessed we are. Thanks for your part in making this a great experience for us through your letters, emails, faith and prayers. Have a good week and know of our love for you.