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| Can you see the corkscrew effect? |
Monday night promised an aurora borealis, so with a clear sky forecast we decided to pull together an impromptu Aurora Party. (The Senior Couples love an excuse to get together.) The spot we thought would offer us a good view...Runsa...where the Viking burial mound and wolf trap are that I wrote about several weeks ago. John's aurora app said the show would start at 4, so we drove to the designated spot and realized it was still too light, even though the sun had gone down at 2:30. We weren't disheartened though, as the app said things should be even better at 9:00. We went the Anderson's house and watched the latest BYU TV special--"Instrument of War." (It is a remarkable and touching true story of an American prisoner of war in Germany during WWII who makes a violin. If you haven't seen it, it is well-worth your time to view it.) Then three more couples joined us and we shared a delicious dinner of homemade chicken soup, spinach and apple salad and apple crisp. We are all pretty talented at pulling a dinner together on short notice! At 9 PM we decided to brave the cold again. Just as we emerged from our cars, a star shot across the sky, and I thought, "That's a nice gift...and a bit of a promise." After about 15 minutes of staring into the darkened sky, we got back into our cars to get warm. A few minutes later I noticed the tell-tale white band beginning to form across the northern sky, and I knew it was coming. Jubilant, I jumped out of the car and motioned for everyone to join me. As soon as they were out, the first show began with vertical pillars popping up on our left and right as the band tightened then slowly dissipated, and all the action stopped.
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| This looks awfully dark, but can you see the rainbow-like band? |
We climbed back into the cars to thaw out. After about another half an hour or so, we were about to leave and I noticed the band forming again and this time the show was even longer and better! It is difficult to get good pictures. John's are better than mine, but I'll throw a couple of mine in anyway.
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Full aurora
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Some of our bundled-up aurora watchers.
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Tuesday we did apartment checks. We only have two apartments to check every quarter and they are both near by--the elders upstairs and the Täby sisters about 10 minutes away. I check for cleanliness and supplies, which John fixes things and tightens beds and furniture. After the check, we like to give them a little message and treat. They always seem so grateful to sit back and let us share an uplifting thought and our testimonies with them. Melanie's banana muffins were well received, too!
Wednesday night John got a distress call from the Andersons, who had a flat tire on the freeway about 45 minutes away. They were able to get to an exit, but the tire was shredded, and a special jack was needed...so Elder Hales went to the rescue and returned with both knees of his jeans black with mud. I'm so appreciative of the Vanish spot cleaner here--it is marvelous!
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| Red-coated "Angel of Mercy", as the Anderson's dubbed John. |
Thursday we provided lunch at the District Meeting in the Clubhouse again. I love helping out that way, and they love eating the food!
Friday was Sister Anderson's birthday celebration--so it was an excuse for another Senior Couple party! She requested a taco bar and carrot cake. After dinner, we watched the Christmas Devotional Broadcast from Salt Lake, which helped refocus us on Christmas.
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| We make do with what we have...like tea lights for birthday candles! |
Saturday we went to a Christmas market in Vaxholm. It was nice, but small and when we were finished, we didn't feel satisfied so as we were driving home we googled to find another one. Sure enough there was one at Täby Park, the horse race track near us. It was already dark by the time we got some lunch--a "Cheesesteak" for about $10 (things aren't cheap here!) from a food truck, served on a big hamburger bun....but it was delicious, and warm!
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| We found a warm spot inside to eat our "cheesesteak" sandwiches. The track is behind us. |
We topped off lunch with some amazing chocolate truffles--Jul truffles--coated in cinnamon and other Christmas spices--mmmm, White chocolate with "nejlika." We had a good laugh with Swenglish (mixing Swedish and English) because "nej" means "no" and "lika" of course
looks like "like" --"no like"!! Actually, "nejlika" means "carnation," and the truffle was surprisingly very light and tasty! Then I mustered up the courage and money to buy a Tomte--the little elf-like folk character who delivers presents on Christmas with the Julbock--goat. He is made of handmade felt and Icelandic wool. I think he and the julbock we bought last week will make a nice team on my living room beam next Christmas.
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Tomten is sitting in the front. We can't understand how the artists can stand to be outside all day!
Her booth is a horse stall. |
Yesterday I was reading the article by Stephen Owen, the Young Men General President, the December
Ensign, "Become What God Wants You to Be," and I was impressed with a couple of ideas. "It is not enough just to know with our minds; we must
understand in our hearts. Doctrine can't just influence our thoughts; we have to let it change our very nature." Surely, what we know is important, but that is not how we will be judged. It is our actions that define us and will ultimately be the proof of who we really are. He also reminded us that, "We live in an era of secularism, when people are increasingly putting their trust in worldly philosophies, institutions, and wealth. But all of these will fall, and if we anchor ourselves to them, we will fall also." As we go about this Christmas Season, let us examine our hearts. Are we anchored to Christ? Have we built ourselves on that sure foundation? What does our behavior show?
