Inga Tornqvist- my Swede

A couple of years back my dads cousin Inga sent him a card from Sweden. Being that I am a family oriented person and a huge lover of Family History, I kept her address with the intention of sending her a Christmas Card. Unfortunately, when we moved to the UK her address was lost. There have been a couple of promptings I have received since moving here, first go to Bavaria and send pictures to Helma, and second, to go visit Inga in Sweden. Knowing that my dad was coming here to the UK for the Tri and knowing that it was only a 2 hour flight with inexpensive fares to Stockholm, I asked him to come with me. He agreed. I spent 3 days on the internet trying to find one Inga Tornqvist in Norrkoping Sweden. No luck. I prayed and prayed for the Lord to bless me to be able to find her.

A couple of weeks later dad forwarded an email from his friend and work colleague Jorgen in Stockholm. The email told us that he was excited for us to come and that he had looked up and contacted Inga Tornqvist in Norrkoping, who is very excited to see us. I was in tears, and my prayers were answered. I know very little of my grandma Pearson and was quite young when she passed, but her story has always fascinated me. I will post on my Far Mor Britta later, but today it is about Inga. I was so excited to meet my living Swedish relative Inga and was surprised with the information that grandma's brother Sven had a daughter Inga Britt still living and my dad's 2nd cousin Gunilla was anxious to meet us and share her family history work with us. Could this get any better?

Jorgen told us that Norrkoping was only 1.5 hour drive from Stockholm and that we would drive straight and see tree's tree's tree's and the Norrkoping. As you can see from the pictures, he was right. I will confess that it was AWESOME to see beautiful green pine tree's. The air was clean and it was warm, sunny, and blue skied.

This picture is of the textile factory in Norrkoping where my grandmother worked before immigrating to the US. The factory has since closed and has been converted into a museum.

Norrkoping is beautiful and a very old town. Gunilla invited my family to return and stay with her for a longer period of time so that she can show us all of the old places. I will take her up on the offer. Stockholm and Norrkoping are so beautiful that I want Hubby and the kids to see it.

I don't know why, but there is something very complete about seeing your family in another country. It helps to understand where you come from, what your family looks like and if you carry a resemblance, and you see if they are like you in personality and nature. Inga never married and has no children. She and Inga Britt are the last of my grandma's direct line living.

Inga took us to a lovely restaurant and I had the yummiest fish and salad since moving out of the US. Inga bought our lunch and she and dad were able to speak Swedish together very well while I smiled and nodded. I put together a book of my siblings and our children and gave it to her so that she could see her Swedish/American family and know that we thought of her.

I think that so often in our lives we get caught up with what we have or get and what others have and do, that we often take for granted the simple blessings we have. Some people are never blessed with the opportunity to marry and have children, and it IS an opportunity. Some things you can work hard to buy and have, but other thing you cannot. I admire Inga for living a solitary life and having such a fun and optimistic nature. I have seen people become very bitter and unhappy, but her optimism was inspiring to me. Inga lives in a little flat in this building. The kitchen is tiny, but the home is cosy and nice.

Inga and Gunilla waved us goodbye out the window. They were disappointed that we only had 3 hours to visit, but we had to return the car rental. Inga was very hospitable and Gunilla was filled with information about our family, which was AWESOME. I have mentioned before that it is really really tough living in a different country, but I would never have been able to go to Sweden if I didn't live where I am living right now. The Lord knows what we need in our lives and he knows the things that we need to do and then he prepares a way for it to happen. I needed to do this, and he prepared the way. I hope to see Gunilla and Inga who is 81 years again....sooner than later.

Pedal Until You Puke

Dad participated in the London Virgin Triathlon and were able to cheer him on. I think it is so important to teach your children that we support each other in families, and I also believe it is important for them to attend physical fitness events. The kids loved cheering "Crappa" on. I was proud to watch my 65 year old father pedal til' he wanted to puke. Good job Dad, we are proud of you. Next year a couple of ward friends have invited me to do the running leg of the London Virgin Triathlon, I said yes....of course :) Maybe next year Crappa and I will both be participating, that would be cool.

Sweden Day 1

Stockholm Sweden Day 1

My Paternal Grandmother or Far Mor was from Norrkoping Sweden. It has been my life dream to go and see this land that she left to immigrate to Meadow, UT. Since my dad was going to be in London for the Triathlon I decided to see if he would be willing to take a few days vacation and come with me to Sweden. I have become a pretty comfortable world traveller, but my dad speaks fluent Swedish which is always nice to have in your back pocket :) Dad agreed and away we flew. Dad has a work friend in Sweden named Jorgen who arranged a hotel in Stockholm for us to stay in that was walking distance from everything we wanted to see and do.

Sweden is called "The Venice of the North"

The Clas Pa Hornet

Jorgen "the Viking" and Dad

Jorgen picked us up from the airport and took us for a drive through Stockholm.

Dad and Jorgen looking like twins. I laughed how they have no bottoms, they were stepping in the same gait, and they both walk with their palms lifted. My mom has always laughed at the way my dad lifts his palms back when he walks, I laughed when I saw that Jorgen does the same thing.

After we drove through Stockholm Jorgen took us to Gamla Stan which is the old town. This photo is taken by the palace and the church where the Royals are married.

This is the church where the Royals get married.

This square in Gamla Stan is where the Danes when they invaded Stockholm in the Middle Ages cut off the heads of the Swede's and let them roll.

This is the smallest street in Stockholm.

The Royal Palace.

I think I have mentioned before that I always seem to stumble upon interesting things. Well, when we got to Stockholm we happened to arrive while the international Pride festival was taking place. Gay people from all over the world had come to Stockholm, the flags were flying everywhere from the streets to the buses.

This is the balcony on the Royal Palace where the Royal couple comes to wave to the people.

The Parliament building.

Side view of the Royal Palace.

Sweden is made up of 24,000 islands. Right near this spot is where the sweet water and the salty water converge.

Near T Central there was a monument placed in the square to honour the people killed in Norway.

I loved this figurine hanging from the building. Hubby asked me if it was real, it isn't but it looks really real.

Jorgen took us to dinner in Gamla Stan where we enjoyed some amazing meatballs. 

Stockholm day 1 was AWESOME. I cannot believe how warm and beautiful it was. The Swede's are absolutely gorgeous and friendly. Stockholm is a clean and beautiful city and the pace is VERY different from London. Stockholm is a walking and cycling town and there are zero fat people. Jorgen told us that he told people that he had "big Americans" coming. I was so embarrassed that before he had met me he had assumed that I would be "big" because I was American. Does America really have the reputation of being obese? Neighbours Hugh and Mary confirmed this stereotype, and yup it does. I was shocked. No more obesity for my family. After travelling through Europe and Scandinavia I have seen that Europeans are very thin and fit. No more excuses of having "big" Swedish ancestors, they aren't "big" but they are tall, beautiful, and fit. Another thing I thought was funny was how many Swede's have dimples. You don't see many dimples in the UK, but you see tons of them in Sweden. Too funny.