Feb. 9-15, 2020 Birthday Memories

 Turning 64 has never been better.  I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than to be in Vienna, Austria eating at the Rathauskeller Restaurant.  We visited here in the early 80's and celebrated our Anniversary at this very same restaurant.  I told the waiter that we were returning after 35 years to this place and he asked, "were you here with the same man?"  We laughed and said absolutely!  He was surprised and pleased.  It has only gotten better with age.  It is in the basement of the historic Rathaus (City Building) and is very beautiful.

Cream of Pea Soup

meatloaf with egg and sausage

Braised beef with dumplings

Chocolate mousse

 I ordered their special of the night - meatloaf - it was the best I have ever had, but very interesting. It had a hard boiled egg, a hotdog and a dill pickle in the middle.  Authentic Austrian!
The chocolate mousse was a perfect ending. 

 These are pictures of the rooms. The ceilings were so ornate with beautiful lighting.  There are several different rooms from small intimate to large grand ballrooms.  It was nice to visit in the off season and on a quiet night.

 One of the delights of serving in Vienna is having 20 missionaries that have become family.  At our District Council on Monday they surprised me at lunch with these two cakes.  Elder Kroes from Hannover Germany put them together.  These are my favorite cakes.  You purchase the base - a sponge cake in a tart form.  It is filled with a pudding cream center with fruit and glaze.  I like it a lot better than a heavy cake that are usually not very sweet.  He really went to extra effort and made it a wonderful day.  It was so fun to be a part of their excitement and delight in the surprise.

Elder Christensen from Denmark is a great character artist.  He sketched the picture of me on the whiteboard.  The missionaries are the BEST!
Russ had the Sisters pick up a bouquet of tulips and delivered them to the Institute.  I stopped on the way and purchased an ice cream cake and served it to all of the missionaries to celebrate on Tuesday.  I got to also talk to all of my Children and grandchildren and that was also very nice.  I am so grateful for FaceTime that brings family so close.

Thank you to everyone who sent Birthday Wishes.  It truly made my day!

Wednesday I taught the English Institute class again. Another highlight of my week.   It was the first class of the new semester and we are teaching, "Teachings and Doctrines of The Book of Mormon".  It is going to be a really good class even if I only get to teach half of the semester.  I have 5 regular students and we have become a really close class and we have been able to have some very special experiences together.  I think that is the best part of teaching, when a student gets to the point they can share their feelings and share what they have learned or experienced as a result of studying the scriptures.  Joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Thursday and Saturday English class is another amazing experience.  We continue to have 20 - 30 people in attendance and they really enjoy the class.  Today several commented that they have paid to be in English classes and that they are learning a lot more in this class and it is a much better experience for them.  They enjoy after class socializing as much as anything.  They have a lot of fun playing pool and eating the treats I prepare.  We are making good associations with some of them.  The women really like to talk and share their stories with me.  It will be hard leaving these wonderful people. 

The past two weeks the missionaries have been de-cluttering and cleaning their apartments for our annual Deep Clean Inspections.  We put together a cleaning pack for each apartment to help them clean better.  I gave them some Melaleuca Tub N Tile, cleaning cloths, scrubbing sponges, cleaning gloves and a pumice stone.  They had no idea what to do with most of the items.  The Tub N Tile is so much better than any product they can purchase here for cleaning.  It really makes a difference.  They have cleaned and I come in with the Melaleuca and make it SHINE!  The pumice stone is to clean the toilet and the hard water build-up in some of their showers.  They are about the only thing that will clean the toilets.  I cleaned two toilets and they look new.  We offered to help each set of missionaries for two hours if they wanted our help.  Two apartments took us up on the offer and we spent about 5 hours today cleaning.  I am so glad they asked us.  They were willing to clean but really did not know how or what to do.  With all of us working we moved mountains - literally.  In one apartment we removed 7 Large garbage bags with clothes and bedding that are no longer needed.  We hauled wood, metal table legs, old vacuums, etc. and WOW, what a difference in their apartments.  Freezers were defrosted, ovens cleaned  and bathrooms that shine.  We would rather go help and know it is being done than to arrive for the inspections and find them still needing a lot of cleaning.  It was really a fun day being with the missionaries and helping them make their apartments better places to live.  We also replace old or broken appliances, curtains, bedding, kitchen equipment, etc.  So, with all of that, we have also been doing some shopping.  We purchased and built a new IKEA cube unit, repaired chairs and wood floor repairs.  So much to get done.  This next week will be really busy with all of the Inspections.  Another road trip at the end of the week. 

So, today has been a really busy day.  We helped clean two apartments, shopped for groceries, made homemade Salsa and cooked black beans for Sunday dinner with 4 missionaries, attended English Class, made a cake for Sunday dessert and now I am ending the day with finishing the Blog. 
We look forward to Sundays with the different missionaries that we invite over.  It has become one of our favorite things of the week.  It is a lot of work and sometimes I wonder how I will get it all done, and then when it is all over, we are so grateful for the time we have with them and the wonderful spirit they bring into our home. 

With my Birthday on Tuesday - it is the same every year - and Valentines on Friday, we celebrated both events on Tuesday.  We had a quiet night at the Institute and came home a little early.  We splurged on the way home and stopped in the Train station at McDonald's and ordered take-out to bring home and eat while we watched a Hallmark Valentine Movie.  Great way to celebrate the day!

Wishing each of you happiness, love and joy as you continue on the path of life with all of its challenges, trials, experiences and successes.  A missionary asked us tonight what the best part of our mission has been.  We both said, THE PEOPLE.  We have had so many wonderful experiences and we have been blessed to see some of the most beautiful places in the World - and yet the best part for us has been meeting and associating with so many wonderful people.  They have made all the difference.  We love the mission family we now belong to. Life is Good.

Viel Liebe,
The Grimmett's