Modest Midsommer and More Family

The week following the last post was spent for the most part in readying an apartment to return to the landlord. Luckily, we had the missionaries to help in the initial phase during the three days that Micah's family was in Denmark. We were grateful for the help because there was a lot of furniture to carry down 77 stairs and out to the large van we had rented. The Hales were also there to help. Before the missionaries came, I carried a bed and other items down, so that Elder Hales, who supervised loading the van, would look busy. We were parked illegally so if the parking enforcement employees came along they would not fine us. As it turned out, I happened to be there when they came and they only had us move to another less obvious, but still illegal spot on the road.

Street view of the apart-
ment building. Classic
old Stockholm dwelling.

Of course the apartment is on the top floor.

Elder Hales supervising
loading the van. Elders
Denton and Craun are
loading this time.

Most of the crew: Elders Liljenquist, Craun, Olson, Denton and
Fortuna. Assisted by two of President Carlsons' boys.

We had missionaries
or helpers on each
landing, so they only
had to carry the items
from one landing to the
next. Elder Liljenquist,
here

The Carlsson boys wait
for the next item to come
to them

Elder Lee starting down
from his landing to the
next.

Elders Lee and Craun

The sofa was broken, so I took it apart
as much as I could. The crew took the
pieces down.

Taking the last few pieces.

Now we just had to find a way to put them
into the van.

 No easy task, but they did it.

Back at the mission office
Elder Berlin tries on a jacket
that had been left by another
missionary. Maybe in a few
years. 😊

Elders Harden, Lee and Berlin moving
furniture into the mission office garage.

Trying to find a place for everything
in the mission office garage. Too much
stuff from the other apartments we
have closed.

Elder Baggett could
not be there for the
loading part, so he came
later to help clean.

Elder Sirrine, is his companion.
They were in a meeting during
the morning, so they helped
clean in the afternoon.

After Micah's family left we spent several days cleaning the apartment. Again, we had the assistance of some hard-working missionaries, which made the job go much faster. We were able to turn the keys over to the management company a month early and saved that much rent. It was the most expensive apartment in the Stockholm area, so it was good to save some money.

Helpers scrubbing the walls and woodwork

Sister Hall has helped
on more than one apartment.
We were glad to have her back.

Sister Westerlind was also
great help.

The places we find ourselves
in to get an apartment clean!

Mold and other stains
had to be sanded and
oiled.

Every window has an inside pane,
front and back and an outside pane,
front and back.

Making sure we filled our next day, we loaded the car with an office chair and a recliner and started a journey south.

First, we drove to Hägersten to repair a bike that was parked at the church where the missionaries were attending a district meeting. Districts can have several areas and that used to require a lot of travel, but now the missionaries in each area go to the local church building and attend the meeting by Skype or another electronic means.

Bikes at the end of the lane. A wobbly
seat needed a new bolt and nut.

Then on we drove to Västerås, where the sisters have been hanging sheets, blankets and a comforter over the windows in their bedroom to blackout the sun as it is still up when they are supposed to be in bed. We replaced the night covers with actual blackout curtains.

"Really, it's no big deal.
We could use curtains if
you want to bring them,
but we are getting along
just fine." 

We love to help people with such a positive
attitude about their situation. 

Now, isn't that better?

The chairs were for the Eskilstuna missionaries. The recliner in the sisters' apartment was being held together with packing tape that was peeling off and getting everyone who sat in the chair sticky. We hauled the old one out and put in the new one. The elders' desk chair had broken, so we replaced it with a used, but solid one that should last.

Unfortunately, it was pouring rain in Eskilstuna and we just got in a hurry to get things in and out without getting soaked to the skin, so we neglected to take pictures. Too bad because the sisters (Beck and Bottita) are two with whom we have had close contact and it was so nice to see them again. Elders Allred and Rasmussen were on bikes having just come from a service project helping a member move. They were drenched, but smiling.

That week was transfer week. We were not needed for picking up the new missionaries because there were so few, but we helped to get them to the train station because they now had companions and lots of luggage that we helped transport.

We also got to help bring the missionaries who are returning home from the train station to the mission home. The temple was closed, so they missed out on that tradition. We had worked with all three of these young men, as well. It was nice to have a meal with them and wish them well on their final day in Sweden.

Elder Berlin has served as an Assistant
to the President. He still has a few
months left, so he will be in Örebro
for a time serving as the District
Leader there with Elder Fronk

Elders Harden, Lee, Berlin Liljenquist, Olson and Beveridge.
Elders Berlin and Liljenquist are being transfered. Elder Beveridge
is the new Assistant.

President Youngberg
trying on Elder Cluff's
hat. It did fit one ear.

President and Sister Youngberg with Elders Erdman, Cluff
and Martineau the night before going home.

Midsommar this year was a modest affair compared with last year. Last year we were at the largest celebration in the country in Leksand. 20,000 people crowded into the town to watch the maypole raise. This year the Hales and several of the temple couples went there, but we just enjoyed a quiet afternoon with a handful of members from the Uppsala Ward. Kurt and Monica Hedin invited everyone to their home where we cooked korv (Swedish for both wieners and sausages) and shared other dishes. No maypole, no dancing and no singing, just happy conversation. They also had the little game where you go from one quiz question to another and answer trivia questions. Barbro, one of the sisters in the ward won first, but I came in second. Wild guessing sometimes works.

Cooking korv with Elders Dawson and
Jordan. Darlington Brumskine from the
ward came in a suit.

Sisters Bingham, Chapdelaine, and Jones

All the Uppsala missionaries
standing by the fire in the stove.
It has been unusually warm - until Midsommar.😏

The women who attended. Barbro and
Monica with the missionaries.

The quiz game winners. Barbro 1st, me 2nd,
the sisters (including Olivia) 3rd.

Brother Kurt Hedin got some rhubarb
from his garden to give away. Nice people!

And then came our son Jordan with his wife Ruth and children Massey and Rebeca:

Finally coming through the hall from
customs. They had a direct flight from
the US, so they had to stand in the passport
line.

At Terminal 5 in the
Arlanda Airport

We took them to Tant Bruns Kaffestuga
in Sigtuna only to discover that this quaint
little cafe was so popular that day that we
had to sit outside after waiting for other
customers to leave

There was little food left and the serving
staff were overwhelmed, but at least we
got a picture with Tant Brun herself.

We brought them to our
apartment where Rebeca
found the electric keyboard

Then we took them to the "Club House"
that would be their accommodations for
the coming week.

They came to church with us on Sunday where the ward welcomed them.
They met Sister Jones, a missionary who is also from Las Vegas.

Behind the church is a
cherry tree, so they
harvested a skirt full.

Then the mandatory tour of the magnificent
Dom Kyrka. 

Sunday dinner at our apartment was the
Swedish meal of meatballs, potatoes,
gravy, lingon berries and cooked vegetables.

When we came to pick
them up on Monday, we
found Rebeca and dad
washing the windows.

Rightfully proud of a job
well done!

A rune stone in Mariefred
just outside the Gripsholm
Castle

The castle has a proper
moat and on the bank,
I discovered smultron.
These are tiny strawberry-
like plants.

The tiny berries are quite sweet, so
the kids were happy to sample them
even though it meant being danger-
ously close to falling into the moat.

Some beautiful carvings on
a wall inside the castle

The castle houses the
National Portrait Gallery
including this portrait of
Prince Henrik Wilhelm,
who looks like a princess
in this picture

There is a great stage for royal entertainment and behind the stage, some elaborate machinery for moving props. It was very interesting to an old theater major.

We enjoyed the grounds and
had a picnic by the moat.

As we were leaving, I wanted
to take another look at a
rune stone and discovered
Sister McWorter who had
served here. She was back
with her mother and little
sister. It was a fun reunion.

Swans in the lake behind the castle.

The castle from a distance

Near the castle is a deer
reserve area. Massey and
I decided to leave the path
because we thought we
would likely see deer
over the hill.

We were right. These are fallow deer.
They keep their spots and have antlers
sort of like small moose.

They were a little wary, so we couldn't get
too close, but enough to get some pictures.

We also visited some of the sites that we had visited with the other children when they came. Here is a sampling:

The kids loved the huge
lawn in front of the
beautiful temple.

There is a new walking path around the
back of the temple

The gigantic escalator
at Central Station

A guard looks on in front of the Royal Palace.

Inside the Stora Kyrka

St. George and the dragon

The alter piece is all precious woods and silver

In the Stora Torget

The story train in Junibacken

Being Pippi, lifting the horse overhead.

The mirror wall makes
it look like she is hanging
from the chandelier. 

With Astrid Lindgren

Inside an ancient diving
bell in the Vasa Museum

A reproduction of a deck

At Gunnes Gård, the Viking farm near
our apartment

With our favorite guide, Anders an
archaeologist. 

Helping Rebeca bake Viking bread

The Mexican restaurant in Uppsala
in honor of Mexico playing
Sweden in the World Cup[

Dress ups Inside the museum at
Gamla Uppsala

Elsa and Julia from the Uppsala Ward
joined us for the afternoon.

Inside the 1850s home
at Disagården, They kept
a knife in the foot of the
cradle to protect the baby
from trolls

In the milk shed

Note the straw roof.

In front of the Viking burial mounds
in Gamla Uppsala

Our Viking ship down from our apartment

Hiking in the woods
behind our house

Rebeca and Massey discovered the same
troll as the other grandchildren

Recycling plastic bottles

Each one is worth 1 Crown

They will use the receipt in the store

To buy every kind of
candy

From the giant godis
bar

Then off to the Vaxholm Fortress. Mirror
selfie with the fortress in the foreground.

On the dock in front of the fortress

On top of the tower

Our favorite ice cream

Rebeca found a lady bug

The musician statue

Across the bay from
City Hall where the
Nobel Prizes are awarded

More smultron! We
have heard about these
for the last 22 months,
but never thought we
would find some.

But these are right in
front of the mission
office!

The kids would not leave
them alone. They are tiny
and very sweet.

A game of Kub before we call it a day.

Then back to the airport. They even took
an extra bag with our things in it.

A final picture before they walked through the security area.

We are back to just us for a few weeks. We have lots to do to prepare for the Clouses who will be taking our place as well as the things we normally do. At least, we don't have another apartment to close for a while. We are happy, healthy, and while we look forward to going home I get an ache in my throat when I think about it. So I try not to think about it.