Dear Readers, right now I am teary eyed. They are bittersweet tears. My husband is driving to the airport to drop our wonderful visitors off for their flight back home. We were overjoyed to have my in-laws visit for ten days. It was the sweetest reunion!
When I first met my husband, unbeknownst to me, he told his parents I was the “girl he wanted to marry”. A year later, we were married in the Danish Seaman’s Church in New York City. That was almost thirty-four years ago. I not only gained a husband, but God gifted me with “bonus parents”. At our wedding, my father-in-law, Torben, told me to call them “Mor and Far” – “Mom and Dad”.
We have always enjoyed spending time with them. My mother-in-law, Ulla, and I have many common interests, including knitting, cooking, and gardening. I could not have been blessed with better in-laws, and my daughter, Audrey, blessed with such wonderful grandparents. It is so difficult being so far away. We used to see them once or twice a year. Unfortunately, the Pandemic, health issues, school and work schedules, and just the craziness of life has kept us all apart for way too long! We were overjoyed when we learned they were finally able to come visit! The countdown of days was on, and we could not wait!
For days before, we cooked, baked, cleaned and got everything ready for our special houseguests. Their flight was an easy one, arriving on time, and they were here at our home in time for a meal and catching up. As soon as we were all together, it was like no time had passed. You can see the pure joy on our faces!
After a horrible winter, and a very cold, dreary Spring, God blessed us with the BEST weather for the entire ten days! At the beginning of the week, it was sunny but still cool, so we headed to Mystic, Connecticut for the day.
There, we visited the Mystic Seaport, which, ironically, had a special display made of Legos. Legos were originally designed in Denmark, and when my daughter was little, Mor and Far took us all to the original “Legoland” in Billund, Denmark.
We also walked around the “Shoppes at Mystic”, where we had all been together almost 24 years ago, when my daughter was a baby in a stroller. The duck pond is still there, and now there are baby ducks, as well!
Afterward, we headed to downtown Mystic for dinner at “Mystic Pizza”, and ice cream at the famous Mystic Drawbridge.
Another day, my daughter and I took Mor and Far to Chester, Connecticut for the day. We walked around the little Main Street, and before heading home, had ice cream at the Honeycone Craft Ice cream shop. We were thrilled when the flavor of the day was Basil! BEST FLAVOR EVER!
Another day, which was the only real overcast day, we all attended a “Chocolate Expo”. What fun! We walked around, where merchants gave out delicious samples of all sorts of confections, and we picked up a few delicious “treats”.
The best times, however, were just being home and “hanging out”. We’d look at the garden and yard, which is now planted and in full bloom, drink coffee together, or sit in “Gidget the Glamper”. It was nice to see the butterflies in the yard. (“Sommerfugl”, which translates to “Summer Bird”. I also love that the danish word for “bat” is “Flagermus”, or “Flower Mouse”…so cute!)
It was so nice to have the house full of laughter and life. The pets fell in love with their “grandparents”, especially Torben, who kept his pockets stocked full of puppy cookies. I almost thought I might need to check Torben’s suitcase, in case Trooper was packed up, hee hee! (Trooper is now getting extra snuggles and love). I loved having a full table each night for dinner, and at breakfast, hugs, coffee, and rounds of “God Morgen” (Good morning)!
At the end of their visit, Audrey and I took Ulla to the local tea room for “Girls’ Day Out”.
The last night we were all together, we sat around the fire pit and roasted Danish “Snobrød” – bread dough wrapped around hot dogs, ate watermelon, and roasted s’mores for dessert. It was a perfect ending to our family visit.
The next day was so sad. Bittersweet tears flowed like the ocean…we were all so happy to be reunited, and sad that it was time for them to leave. Saying goodbye was harder than we all anticipated. The house is so much quieter, but we are so blessed to have spent the wonderful time we had, making such sweet memories!
Dear readers, if you are lucky and blessed enough to still have your parents or grandparents, especially if they are nearby, count your blessings. There is nothing greater, nothing sweeter, than the love of family!
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