We finally got our broadband connection ready. We are still having problems with our wireless router. Oh well, we have internet and the router can be fixed later this week.
Here is a picture journal:
I’m talking with a family member wanting to welcome Sam to Sweden. We just went out to downtown Stockholm after I picked up Sam from the airport.
Below is Sofia’s Church. I like to think of it as Sophie Liang’s church cause I think of her everytime the bus drives by!
We went out on the pier and did some geocaching. These are some of the views of Jonkoping.
These is not the regular choices. It was a holiday so we didn’t get to choose from their full selection of goodies.
And of course…. my favorite “fika” place… wiener konditoriet. I love sitting upstairs drinking my coffee and eating my yummy cookie. Sam usually picks a Napoleon cake. I’m not sure if he thinks it’s named that after the movie….
I called our broadband company and it normally takes between 2-3 weeks to get it all installed. Oh well. I have internet at work and we go down to the central station to the internetcafe. It’s about $2 per hour so no biggy.
It’s a holidy today in Sweden. Asencion day (sorry about the spelling…), we celebrate the day Jesus returned to the Father.
Sam and I have been trying to do some geocashing. We found one but the weather is not the best. It’s been cold and rainy for over a week. I suppose it’s expected. Winter was long so our “april-fools” weather is in the month of May instead. It’s sort of funny though. Today the sun has been shining, then clouds, then sun, then rain, then sun, then hail.
We have had some fika too of course! 
And we took a lot of pics on our walk… soon we’ll publish them!
The Eurovision songcontest was last weekend. Sweden did well. Our Carola had to make the qualifying round against 23 countries and then the finals against another 23 countries. She placed 5th overall. I think it’s good. Who won? Well, the little cute finns. They had such cute little outfits and sang a beatiful song named “Hardrock Hallelujah”. Not my favorite… The lyrics are very questionable too. My favorite (apart from Sweden) was Russia… and Lithuenia on a close 2nd place.
Sorry… we haven’t blogged for a while. Soon very soon… We will be getting the thing hooked up soon and we promise lots of great pics and stories about our adventures in Sweden.
Just wanted to let you know that we just don’t have internet at home just yet!
Home! It actually feels like home again. It didn’t feel like home until Sam got here. Our apartment is very empty, it has an echo. By the end of this week we are planning to fill it with furniture and things that will make it homey!
I got a statement from Icelandair that showed that we could cash in a night at a 4 star hotel in Stockholm. We ended up at Royal Park Hotel. These are the pics from the hotel, some of the surroundings, and a room that looks just like the one we had.
I have been working today (Monday) but took vacation for the rest of the week so that we can get everything done that we need to get done!
Well the last couple of days have been pretty hectic! Our first night together we stayed at a huge hotel/mansion in Stockholm. The next day we drove to our home…about our new home… I love it! So many first impressions…Our place is pretty empty right now so I guess this week we are going to do alot of shopping. It is in a great location with everything in walking distance. Hopefully an electronics store…I really need a plug in for our laptop. I only have a few minutes of battery life remaining-so I have to cut my blog off early today-sorry no snazzy pictures or anything…more to come soon!
My week has been pretty hectic! Everything is now out of the condo-including my bed! So tonight…I sleep on the floor. I have a bed awaiting me at Jonas and Shiloh’s home, but it is after midnight and I am pretty sure I can sleep anywhere. Tonight was tough- I said alot of goodbyes. I attended my final GED class and wished the student luck. They are so positive and I know they are going to do well. 
Afterward I met up with my buddy Andy and had dinner at the Town Hall Brewery. I am really going to miss all of my friends here. I think the next few days are going to be tough with all of the goodbyes. But I am excited that I only have 2.5 days left at work! On Friday I am off to Montana!
Friday - leaving Jönköping
I have had a great weekend in Stockholm, or rather Tumba a suburb south of Stockholm. That’s where most of my family and relatives live. At 13:50 I was still on the city bus in Jönköping hoping and praying that I would make it to the bus that was about to leave at 13:55. As the city bus pulled to a stop and opened the doors I leaped out and ran with my luggage across the street glancing on the clock above the central station’s entrance… 13:53. I ran through the doors and down the stairs, through the waiting hall for the trains and through the sliding doors into the busterminal. I made a quick check on the board to see with gate the bus was about to leave from but kept running. All the passangers had boarded and the driver was making the final checks as I climbed on board. Yes, I made it. I know I shouldn’t have but I did!
As the bus entered Stockholm we hit traffic. Of course, it’s a big holiday weekend. Even more so this year when the king of Sweden is turning 60 with great big festivities and the annual waving to the public from the castle balcony together with his wife and three children. Stuck in traffic. I was thirsty and needed to use the bathroom. We were supposed to arrive at 5:50pm but I didn’t get to step out of the bus until 6:30. Not too bad and the driver was funny and kind.
First stop, Rikard (my cousin) & Natalie. It was great to see them again and their newly arrived son Ivar. Rikard’s parents Ulla-Britt and Lennart came by with his older sister Kicki and her children. It was great! We had fika! Coffee or tea (!) sandwiches and chocolate cake. As they left, Rikard, Natalie and I continued to talk for a few hours.
Saturday - with grandma, dad, Kerstin & Rikard
Second stop: Breakfast on Saturday with grandma. Catching up with grandma was great, she always has a lot of stories to tell and recipies to share. She also made baked whole apples with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and syrup. Yum! My grandma is very talented! No, not just cooking and baking, but music too. She played the guitarr for me while playing the harmonica at the same time. Did I mention she is soon to be 82!
Third stop: Dad! Well, sort of. I lived at my dad’s apartment all nights. He was driving the city buses most nights so I didn’t get to spend too much time with him. We did some shopping in Tumba and stopped at a cafe to refuel. He dropped me off at…
My Fourth stop: Aunt Kerstin, her husband Rune and their two kids. A lot of talking and sharing life experiences, spiritual events, sorrows, and most of all the joy we share. I had a great time connecting with this wonderful family in a way I haven’t had the opportunity to do before.
Fifth stop: Back to Rikard and Natalie to eat grilled hot dogs! Yummie!
Sunday - at church and with Emanuel
Dad and I spent some time talking at the breakfast table. He was preparing for his sermon in Bredäng pentacostal church. After a short prayer we parted. I came a few minutes late to Tumba pentacostal church where I was meeting up with Victoria my borther Emanuel’s wife along with their two children.
Sixth stop: The service was over and we had had the traditional fika (!) with the church goers so we went to Victoria and Emanuel’s home. Delicous meal off the grill, playing and having a make believe picnic with the kids and of course some coffe!
At 8:38 I took the bus to meet up with dad. He was driving this night of special celebration in Sweden. Everywhere, people gather around huge bondfires. They sing special spring songs and it all ends with fireworks. As most families leave the older kids hang around and get drunk. These are the people my dad got to drive through the city. Before it got to roudy, I left to go back to his apartment and sleep.
Monday - with Ulla-Britt & Lennart, Ulliz, dad and back to Jönköping
1st of May! Sweden’s labor day! People get out to demonstrate. It’s the day for politicians and unions. For me…
Seventh Stop: Got picked up by my uncle Lennart to have breakfast with him and his wife Ulla-Britt. It was wonderful to sit down and hear what they are doing now and to share more about Sam’s and my plans. We went to my cousin Ulliz apartment so that I could connect with her a short while. She is in the middle of moving to a new apartment.
Dad and I left Tumba on the train into down town Stockholm. After walking around for a few minutes we decided on a restaurant/cafe and had lunch together. He waved me off as my buss left the station taking me back to Jönköping.
It was exciting to see Andy, Marie, Alex, and Rebecka again. Of course… the party continues as we all ate a banana pie that Marie pulled out of the oven warm and fresh…
Thank you for making my visit in Stockholm great. I loved seeing everyone of you!