Feet!

Home again...

Thank you to everyone who was praying for us during our journey homeward! We all arrived in LA safely, spent the night there, then drove home yesterday.

Sweden...the place, the adventures, the memories...was all amazing. I know I grew a lot over the trip (luckily not physically, I am proud to say I did not gain weight over our festivities), and the whole experience of it all was fantastic. To tell the truth, I already miss the home we stayed at, and wish we all were still there. But home is a good place. They say home is where the heart is, or home is where your loved ones are. That is so true. Home isn't home without them.

All in all, I am thanking God for the past, and trying to prepare myself for the future. God bless you all.

With Love,

Elise

Göteborg August 7th...

And there was light...

Today began with a rush out the door to catch the 8 o'clock bus to town, with unexpeted rains pouring down on our cotton clothed shoulders. That was sort of the day.

We caught grandpa swimming the 50 backstroke and cheered him on as a good family should. Then we took shelter in the medal room and photographed grandpa with his medals and family smiling about him.

Next we were off to the ferry and the "And There was Light" exhibit. Works of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Rapheal (or copies of their works) were prevalent. It wasn't the greatest museum ever actually.

And the 194 step climb to the base of a small tower.

Tonight we went on a dinner cruise out to the Swedish Isles (that is what I call them, I don't know what they are really called). It was BEAUTIFUL. The islands are all rock it seems, with grass and trees growing out of lakes of soil. I like it. And there were many many sail boats, a lot of blue and yellow ones (which are the best kinds).

That is all for now...

Swimming...

So, what really began to get us to Sweden was the fact that my grandpa is here for the World Master's swim meet.... In case no one knew.

We have been to two of his events so far. He has not been doing as well as he would have wished, but still doing great I think (he is 80). I feel quite scarred by all the men in speedos...especially jostling through them to get to the other side...all the near nakedness is quite appalling. Even more so with all the old men. There was one contestant who was 97. It took him forever to finish the race, but he did, and the cheering for him was loudest of all.

Funny fact, Anna has decided to try swimming for her esercise. I don't think it has anything to do with the swim meet, more her consultation with Jacob and his suggestions for her physical well being :) She begins in a lake up a mountain near our residence tomorrow. Wish her luck!

The Swedish Isles

Today we went to the islands off the coast of south Sweden...they were quite lovely. We had a delicious picnic (due to the gluten and dairy free brownies), saw many beautiful little boats, traversed over countless rocks, and ran to catch two ferries: one that wasn't ours, and the next one that was. All in all a great day, though very tiring. But now we are not tired and quite ready for another white collar episode. We'll write again soon....

Stockholm

Utby, August 1st

We are back in Utby after traveling to Stockholm for a few days of hectic wanderings (don't get me wrong, it was quite nice, just a little crazy living in two rooms with a shower outside, around a corner, and in locked doors, and attempting to find gluten and dairy free food). But we had a great personal tour guide (Johannes, a great Swedish man whom we met in Venice 5 years ago). It is great to be back here in Utby, a little neighborhood on the outskirts of Göthenburg. And the sun is actually shining! For a moment...

Here are some pictures of the past week...it has been quite an adventure.