Happy New Year everyone.
2014!!
It's funny, when I was younger a new year seemed to mean so much more. I'd have big dreams and elaborate plans and each new year seemed "magic" and exciting.
I don't know if this new way of feeling comes with age and maturity, but for each year, New Year seem very much like any other day.
Sound kind of pessimistic when I write that down.
But I don't feel it in a pessimistic way.
It's more like a "matter of fact" feeling.
A new year is to many a "new beginning". Promises are made, and within a few weeks broken... ;)
I have learned that changes that I NEED to make, is something that has to happen, regardless what day of the year is. I won't focus on a certain day or hour, I try to make small changes each day instead.
Sometimes I succeed, often I fail. But failing to succeed doesn't hurt as much if you weren't too hyped up about the change in the first place.
Sometimes things just don't work out. They weren't meant to be.
I write a journal, one page per day, and at the end of each month there's a full page where you can add notes. I just did my final notes to 2013, and wow!! It sure made me reflect about our past year.
One year ago I started 2013 with a hope and prayer in my heart.
A big wish was sent above.
The wish really burned in my heart, and I was quite scared that our goal for 2013 would not be met.
The big plan was to move back to Canada from Finland.
When you stand on the threshold and sway back and forth, waiting to take a step towards a new adventure, so many, many thoughts and feelings are present.
When there's a big change you are about to make on behalf of your family, you want to get it right.
Times like that it's easy to be humble and remember to pray.
But it is Oh so HARD to be patient and not doubt.
Last spring was a blur of activity. Getting our house "ready enough" to be put up for sale.
Did we list it at the right time? At the right price?
We felt nervous and excited and impatient.
The months went by, too fast and too slow at the same time.
I wanted time to move forward, so that we would be back in Canada as soon as possible!
I wanted time to stay still, so I could enjoy our last months in Finland, making the best of it, but also so that we would have time to get everything done and ready to go!!!
I stubbornly prayed. And pleaded. And doubted. And stressed. And somehow, survived.
To me the unknown is the worst.
If someone would have told me
"It won't happen, give it another year!"
I would have been fine.
All the reasons I had for why this last year would have been a good year to move, would have seized to matter. I would have steeled myself for another year and made the best out of it.
The not knowing ate me alive though.
At midsummer we still didn't know. We spent the weekend away with many dear friends, and I totally disconnected from the house selling and the whole move.
I embraced the thought of maybe staying another year, and truly felt it wouldn't be so bad.
Besides, how would we even have time to get everything ready to move in just 6-7 weeks?
There was still a lot of work left to do on our house.
I stopped stressing and let it all just "be".
The Monday after we'd been gone, we got a call.
Some friends of our neighbors who had viewed our house a week and a half ago, called back.
"Can we come and see your house again this weekend?"
Saturday came, and it was my Hubby's grandma's funeral.
Our thoughts were so far away from earthly worries or concerns.
We spent precious time with friends and family, bidding farewell to a beautiful soul.
In the evening we came home to meet the prospect buyers, and Hubby and I felt so at peace.
We knew God had walked ahead of us and prepared the way.
After showing the house again, and a brief conversation with this very nice couple, we decided on a price and closing date. We were really selling our house!!!
I had thought this moment would bring me such ecstatic feelings.
But mostly I just felt a silent prayer of gratitude.
This was not our doing.
There was no room for patting our own backs.
Things fell into place at God's time.
When our frame of mind was just right.
We had 5 weeks to get the house ready, have it inspected, book tickets, order a shipping container, pack everything up... Prepare many things in Canada.
We rolled up our sleeves and went to work.
Hard work. Many, many long days.
At times I almost felt exhausted to tears.
I promise you, those are the times it is EASY to remember to pray.
Before getting out of bed in the morning, I prayed.
And God gave strength, sanity, health and enough energy.
Our kids were so good and helpful.
The weather was amazing!!
We had a wonderful guy work for us, he'd stay late many nights, helping my Hubby with construction.
Somehow... it worked.
There are so many details I could add, but mostly I look back and think "Wow".
It sure wasn't our own doing.
We could have gotten sick.
It could have rained every day.
There could have been delays.
The tickets that I booked for our overseas plane could have been gone (we found some really good deals, and when I booked them, there were only 12 tickets left on that plane, and we needed 9 of them!!)
So what have I learned from all this?
It doesn't matter what day it is, what year it is, or what time it is.
What matter is that things will happen in God's time. And with this knowledge in my heart I greet 2014.
With a prayer that I will try to stay humble and remember this, also this year, regardless what our future has in store.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Friday, December 20, 2013
First fall behind us...
I can hardly believe we are already off to Christmas break!
The kids have finished their first fall back in school in Canada.
Over all it's gone well, readjusting to living in Canada has been WAY easier than when we first moved to Finland. But it hasn't only been easy.
Our 7 year old has been homesick for Finland quite often. She was only 4 when we moved over there, so almost all of her memories are from there. She had several friends living on our street, and she loved school there. Lots of time outside, and lots of free play.
Now she's in 2nd grade and the workload is quite a bit heavier. She's catching up with her friends here, but since she was only in Finnish Kindergarten last year, it's a big jump to go straight in to grade 2!
One evening we were sitting in our living room, listening to Finnish Christmas songs, and she started crying. I did too. We hugged, and cried, and missed Finland.
It felt kind of good in a way. Quite a few times while living in Finland I was very homesick for Canada, and I wasn't sure how much I'd miss Finland when we moved back here. I am glad to realize how many good times and memories we have, and to anybody who asks me, I tell them that I'll never regret our time over there.
Our 2 oldest still LOVE high school. I hear new stories every day.
So much fun! People would often tell me "Wait till they are teens!!"
Well, now they are, and I think it's great.
Of course there are times when I think they'd be better off in a zoo, but that hasn't changed since they were 4 and 5...
Our other girls are doing fine as well. They like school and enjoy being together with their cousins.
Our little guy is one of the most animated kids I have ever met. He's hilarious and very intense. He sure makes my days go faster!
Hubby has now been working out of town for the last 3 months. It's gone fast, but at times the weeks feel long. We only have Sundays together, and often that feels like too little time to catch up on everything. He's taken a few odd days off, in order to take care of paperwork, run errands etc.
Next week he'll be off for 6 days straight!! Can hardly wait.
We sure are looking forward to Christmas and a break away from everyday life.
I am past half point in my pregnancy, and over all I feel good. I can tell my body is getting older though, with veins bugging me more and more. Not fun. It's actually quite painful. Yuk.
We had some snow, actually, last weekend we had a storm and got around 20-25 cm dumped in our area.
Here that means chaos, since most people don't have winter tires on their cars, (us included).
Now it's raining and melting away though... Too bad. But supposedly another storm is on its way, so we MIGHT still have a white Christmas.
Looking back at the 4 months we've now spent here, I must say it's gone really well over all.
It's easy to forget to be thankful for being healthy, having enough food to eat, a warm house to call home, great friends and so many other things that make our lives smooth to live.
We are looking forward to the coming year, there are many things on our agenda, but meeting our new baby will surely be the highlight of 2014!
Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New year.
The kids have finished their first fall back in school in Canada.
Over all it's gone well, readjusting to living in Canada has been WAY easier than when we first moved to Finland. But it hasn't only been easy.
Our 7 year old has been homesick for Finland quite often. She was only 4 when we moved over there, so almost all of her memories are from there. She had several friends living on our street, and she loved school there. Lots of time outside, and lots of free play.
Now she's in 2nd grade and the workload is quite a bit heavier. She's catching up with her friends here, but since she was only in Finnish Kindergarten last year, it's a big jump to go straight in to grade 2!
One evening we were sitting in our living room, listening to Finnish Christmas songs, and she started crying. I did too. We hugged, and cried, and missed Finland.
It felt kind of good in a way. Quite a few times while living in Finland I was very homesick for Canada, and I wasn't sure how much I'd miss Finland when we moved back here. I am glad to realize how many good times and memories we have, and to anybody who asks me, I tell them that I'll never regret our time over there.
Our 2 oldest still LOVE high school. I hear new stories every day.
So much fun! People would often tell me "Wait till they are teens!!"
Well, now they are, and I think it's great.
Of course there are times when I think they'd be better off in a zoo, but that hasn't changed since they were 4 and 5...
Our other girls are doing fine as well. They like school and enjoy being together with their cousins.
Our little guy is one of the most animated kids I have ever met. He's hilarious and very intense. He sure makes my days go faster!
Hubby has now been working out of town for the last 3 months. It's gone fast, but at times the weeks feel long. We only have Sundays together, and often that feels like too little time to catch up on everything. He's taken a few odd days off, in order to take care of paperwork, run errands etc.
Next week he'll be off for 6 days straight!! Can hardly wait.
We sure are looking forward to Christmas and a break away from everyday life.
I am past half point in my pregnancy, and over all I feel good. I can tell my body is getting older though, with veins bugging me more and more. Not fun. It's actually quite painful. Yuk.
We had some snow, actually, last weekend we had a storm and got around 20-25 cm dumped in our area.
Here that means chaos, since most people don't have winter tires on their cars, (us included).
Now it's raining and melting away though... Too bad. But supposedly another storm is on its way, so we MIGHT still have a white Christmas.
Looking back at the 4 months we've now spent here, I must say it's gone really well over all.
It's easy to forget to be thankful for being healthy, having enough food to eat, a warm house to call home, great friends and so many other things that make our lives smooth to live.
We are looking forward to the coming year, there are many things on our agenda, but meeting our new baby will surely be the highlight of 2014!
Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas and a very Happy New year.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
7th princess on her royal way!
We are excited to announce that according to yesterday's ultrasound, we are having another GIRL!
We are thankful, happy and feel very blessed, that this baby looks healthy and perfect in every way.
She was a busy little one, moving non stop!
I grew up with 6 sisters, and 3 brothers, so I know what life with lots of sisters is like.
It's sort of like this....
Looking forward to many crazy, hormonal years, ahead :)
Monday, November 25, 2013
Greetings!
Wow, it's been almost a month since I last wrote.
It doesn't feel like I have a whole lot to share, but at the same time I know I've been plenty busy.
When making such a big move, there are so many things that need to be attended to.
And I am still tying up loose ends here and there.
The first month back, I didn't even feel like thinking about anything that involved any kind of brain activity. I managed that basic stuff, like getting kids on the bus in the morning, keeping up with laundry, unpacking the most essential of our stuff, and making sure that everyone was fed and reasonably clean.
Now I'm slowly getting back in the groove of doing a bit more.
I want to find some energy to prep for Christmas!!
Last Saturday Hubby had the day off. The first Saturday in a long time that he didn't work. So, the two of us went Christmas shopping, grabbed a nice lunch together, and just spent time catching up with each other. When he's gone all week, and only at home on Sundays, there isn't much time left for us as a couple.
We both truly enjoyed a day to ourselves.
The kids decorated a gingerbread village at home, so they had fun too!
Earlier this month we celebrated our third daughter's belated birthday. She is 12 now, and is really getting in to science. Weird to think she'll be a teen in another year!! She's so sweet and fun, and she really enjoys being back here. But she also misses her friends in Finland.
One day she told me how she miss walking home from school! It was a 20-25 min walk, up a long hill, but I can see how that time outside was relaxing and refreshing.
Last Friday I went on a field trip with daughter #5. She's in grade two, and it was so much fun to go with her and her friends! They are so cute :)
Last week I also had another visit at my midwife's and we could hear the baby's heartbeat! It made me so, so happy. At the end of next week I'll have another ultra sound, and we might find out the baby's gender :) Very exciting!!
Our little kids have so many questions about the new baby, and they are very, very excited.
Our youngest daughter, she's six, told me one morning:
"Mamma, I hope this baby doesn't die!"
I agreed with her.
For each week I am getting more and more excited, and if we find out the gender... I just might shop a tiny bit...
Some days I'm pretty tired, but over all I feel good. I'm an oldie being pregnant, but I don't feel OLD!
I guess that's a good sign!!
Well, there's not too much to write about.
Life is moving along, it feels good to be here, but at times I have moments when I really miss some of my friends from overseas... wishing it wasn't so far away.
I will miss Christmas there as well. It's so cozy with the snow, tons of candles in the windows and, well, the yummy chocolate and treats :)
Hope you all are hanging in there, and not stressing too much during this time of year!
It doesn't feel like I have a whole lot to share, but at the same time I know I've been plenty busy.
When making such a big move, there are so many things that need to be attended to.
And I am still tying up loose ends here and there.
The first month back, I didn't even feel like thinking about anything that involved any kind of brain activity. I managed that basic stuff, like getting kids on the bus in the morning, keeping up with laundry, unpacking the most essential of our stuff, and making sure that everyone was fed and reasonably clean.
Now I'm slowly getting back in the groove of doing a bit more.
I want to find some energy to prep for Christmas!!
Last Saturday Hubby had the day off. The first Saturday in a long time that he didn't work. So, the two of us went Christmas shopping, grabbed a nice lunch together, and just spent time catching up with each other. When he's gone all week, and only at home on Sundays, there isn't much time left for us as a couple.
We both truly enjoyed a day to ourselves.
The kids decorated a gingerbread village at home, so they had fun too!
Earlier this month we celebrated our third daughter's belated birthday. She is 12 now, and is really getting in to science. Weird to think she'll be a teen in another year!! She's so sweet and fun, and she really enjoys being back here. But she also misses her friends in Finland.
One day she told me how she miss walking home from school! It was a 20-25 min walk, up a long hill, but I can see how that time outside was relaxing and refreshing.
Last Friday I went on a field trip with daughter #5. She's in grade two, and it was so much fun to go with her and her friends! They are so cute :)
Last week I also had another visit at my midwife's and we could hear the baby's heartbeat! It made me so, so happy. At the end of next week I'll have another ultra sound, and we might find out the baby's gender :) Very exciting!!
Our little kids have so many questions about the new baby, and they are very, very excited.
Our youngest daughter, she's six, told me one morning:
"Mamma, I hope this baby doesn't die!"
I agreed with her.
For each week I am getting more and more excited, and if we find out the gender... I just might shop a tiny bit...
Some days I'm pretty tired, but over all I feel good. I'm an oldie being pregnant, but I don't feel OLD!
I guess that's a good sign!!
Well, there's not too much to write about.
Life is moving along, it feels good to be here, but at times I have moments when I really miss some of my friends from overseas... wishing it wasn't so far away.
I will miss Christmas there as well. It's so cozy with the snow, tons of candles in the windows and, well, the yummy chocolate and treats :)
Hope you all are hanging in there, and not stressing too much during this time of year!
Friday, November 1, 2013
A little bit of life...
It's been a while since I wrote last, so I guess I'll fill you in on the latest.
It's getting very fall-like here.
The trees are getting their fall colours, and the leaves are getting shaken off the branches in the strong winds that started yesterday.
It's still been pretty warm during the days (+15 C), but several mornings in the last week we had a bit of frost on the ground.
Last night the kids braved the rain and wind and went "trick or treating"!
So much fun for the little kids to go from house to house, filling their bags with goodies :)
Now they don't need to eat any real food for probably a week or two...
Hubby is busy at work, and although the weeks get lonely without him around, it's been working out quite well so far. Five weeks have gone fast!, we'll see how much longer the project he works on will last.
He has every Sunday off now btw, so at least we get him home one day a week.
I have been browsing for houses, it'll be so nice to find our OWN place to live in again, but we don't want to rush it either, but rather take our time till we find something that's roomy enough, but also affordable.
When you work construction it's always a bit unpredictable, and if you get laid off, you don't want to have a house you can't afford!
I believe God will guide us also in this matter.
My belly is starting to "bump out", I am almost 14 weeks already!, it's going quite fast and I can hardly wait to have my next ultrasound. Should be in the beginning of December.
I think we'll find out the gender this time, just for fun!
In the last few weeks we've celebrated several birthdays.
We had friends and family over last Saturday, and it made our rental house feel more like our "home".
In the next few weeks I have to make a Christmas planning list! Can't believe it's already this close to Christmas. We hope to celebrate it with hubby's parents and siblings and their families.
Will be fun and loud and crazy!
Between my hubby and his brother and sister, we have 20 kids between ages 4-16 plus one baby.
So lots and lots of cousins around the same ages.
They all have so much fun and I know they are creating great memories for the future, too bad hubby's sister and family live so far away... I hope they can make it here though!
By Christmas I will be half way done with this pregnancy, and then the "count down" can start!
Will be a fun and exciting spring ahead, planning for the arrival of a new family member.
Well, this post is about all sorts of stuff, but I hope it gave you a glimpse in to our daily lives.
Thankfully our daily life is mostly filled with "boring" stuff, like dishes, laundry, school work, cleaning, paying bills, running errands etc. My life could sure be a lot harder!
I feel thankful for how good I have it.
It's getting very fall-like here.
The trees are getting their fall colours, and the leaves are getting shaken off the branches in the strong winds that started yesterday.
It's still been pretty warm during the days (+15 C), but several mornings in the last week we had a bit of frost on the ground.
Last night the kids braved the rain and wind and went "trick or treating"!
So much fun for the little kids to go from house to house, filling their bags with goodies :)
Now they don't need to eat any real food for probably a week or two...
Hubby is busy at work, and although the weeks get lonely without him around, it's been working out quite well so far. Five weeks have gone fast!, we'll see how much longer the project he works on will last.
He has every Sunday off now btw, so at least we get him home one day a week.
I have been browsing for houses, it'll be so nice to find our OWN place to live in again, but we don't want to rush it either, but rather take our time till we find something that's roomy enough, but also affordable.
When you work construction it's always a bit unpredictable, and if you get laid off, you don't want to have a house you can't afford!
I believe God will guide us also in this matter.
My belly is starting to "bump out", I am almost 14 weeks already!, it's going quite fast and I can hardly wait to have my next ultrasound. Should be in the beginning of December.
I think we'll find out the gender this time, just for fun!
In the last few weeks we've celebrated several birthdays.
We had friends and family over last Saturday, and it made our rental house feel more like our "home".
In the next few weeks I have to make a Christmas planning list! Can't believe it's already this close to Christmas. We hope to celebrate it with hubby's parents and siblings and their families.
Will be fun and loud and crazy!
Between my hubby and his brother and sister, we have 20 kids between ages 4-16 plus one baby.
So lots and lots of cousins around the same ages.
They all have so much fun and I know they are creating great memories for the future, too bad hubby's sister and family live so far away... I hope they can make it here though!
By Christmas I will be half way done with this pregnancy, and then the "count down" can start!
Will be a fun and exciting spring ahead, planning for the arrival of a new family member.
Well, this post is about all sorts of stuff, but I hope it gave you a glimpse in to our daily lives.
Thankfully our daily life is mostly filled with "boring" stuff, like dishes, laundry, school work, cleaning, paying bills, running errands etc. My life could sure be a lot harder!
I feel thankful for how good I have it.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Life is settling in
I thought it's time for a little update of life back here in Canada.
We've enjoyed a beautiful fall, with lots of sun and warm weather.
I LOVE that part here.
Since I've been in my first few months of pregnancy, and seriously trying to catch my breath after our overseas move, I didn't get outside as much as I would have liked.
Nausea and fatigue took the best of me for a while, but since it also means that things are going well so far this pregnancy, I'll take it!
I did have an ultra sound last week, and I was VERY nervous before hand.
I wouldn't even look at the screen before the technician told me
"There's definitely a baby in there! It's moving like crazy!"
Aaaaaaaaw!
I felt a huge sense of relief, gratitude and finally I dared to feel really excited.
Walking back to the car, with the ultra sound pictures safely in my hand, I had tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face. I could hardly wait to call hubby and let him know that all looks well so far.
After two losses I truly feel that each baby is a miracle.
A blessing and a gift given from above.
We don't know how long we get to enjoy any of these little ones, and after losing two already in my womb... well, I can't wait to hold this little one close to my heart.
And it's a reminder to love and appreciate the ones we already have, even more.
Hubby's been working out of town for about 3 weeks now and last weekend he has 3 days off.
We actually went out of town to attend a baptism to our newest God child.
We had a nice trip and really enjoyed our family time (not sure how much our 15 year old enjoyed the traveling part, but that's life for a 15 year old with 6 younger siblings...)
The kids have now been in school for 1 1/2 months and so far things are going well.
Our two oldest LOVE high school and the younger ones seem to like their teachers and classes as well.
It's been an adjustment for our two youngest school girls, in grade 1 and 2, to go so long days.
The older one went to Kindergarten in Finland last year, but since they start school a year earlier here, she's now in grade 2. The younger one went to daycare a few days a week in Finland, to be with other kids and learn the language, and now she's suddenly in "real school" full days, every day.
They do like it though, so I think they'll be fine.
I do miss the wonderful playground back at their Finnish school....
Here the schools are so worried about getting sued, that kids are very limited to what they are allowed to do outside. Sad.
Fortunately at home it's not so strict!, they can be outside an do what they want.
One of our girls, she's our 3rd oldest, actually told me the other day that she misses walking home from school! In Finland she and her younger sister walked or biked home on a regular basis, and even if it sometimes seemed like a chore then, she now misses it.
I personally like the convenience of school buses, but I can see her point.
It was a nice time to be outside, get some fresh air and peace and quiet after being in school all day.
Right now we live off of a buys road too, so they can't go walking or biking around here.
So, whenever we are able to buy a house, I'll definitely keep that in mind! (that there will be walking and biking trails close by)
Well, most of the time it feels good and right to be back here.
I do however catch myself missing things from Finland.
I know I'll miss part of the winter.
Not the darkness or -35 C, but when there's tons of white, fluffy, sparkly snow on a cloudless winter's day.
The nature and the trails I often walked.
I remember my last few months in Finland, especially if I was out for a walk, thinking
"THIS I will miss"
There are trails and nature around here as well, but not right outside my door!
You don't end up going as often if you have to drive somewhere.
It feels good to miss some things, it's a sign that living there was a treasured experience.
And it also make the things we like here more clear and obvious.
Well, our life is buys and I just realized I need to start preparing for Christmas soon!
It will be fun to show the little kids all the decorations and things that they do different here.
And I'm sure we'll miss more than one thing from overseas........
We've enjoyed a beautiful fall, with lots of sun and warm weather.
I LOVE that part here.
Since I've been in my first few months of pregnancy, and seriously trying to catch my breath after our overseas move, I didn't get outside as much as I would have liked.
Nausea and fatigue took the best of me for a while, but since it also means that things are going well so far this pregnancy, I'll take it!
I did have an ultra sound last week, and I was VERY nervous before hand.
I wouldn't even look at the screen before the technician told me
"There's definitely a baby in there! It's moving like crazy!"
Aaaaaaaaw!
I felt a huge sense of relief, gratitude and finally I dared to feel really excited.
Walking back to the car, with the ultra sound pictures safely in my hand, I had tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face. I could hardly wait to call hubby and let him know that all looks well so far.
After two losses I truly feel that each baby is a miracle.
A blessing and a gift given from above.
We don't know how long we get to enjoy any of these little ones, and after losing two already in my womb... well, I can't wait to hold this little one close to my heart.
And it's a reminder to love and appreciate the ones we already have, even more.
Hubby's been working out of town for about 3 weeks now and last weekend he has 3 days off.
We actually went out of town to attend a baptism to our newest God child.
We had a nice trip and really enjoyed our family time (not sure how much our 15 year old enjoyed the traveling part, but that's life for a 15 year old with 6 younger siblings...)
The kids have now been in school for 1 1/2 months and so far things are going well.
Our two oldest LOVE high school and the younger ones seem to like their teachers and classes as well.
It's been an adjustment for our two youngest school girls, in grade 1 and 2, to go so long days.
The older one went to Kindergarten in Finland last year, but since they start school a year earlier here, she's now in grade 2. The younger one went to daycare a few days a week in Finland, to be with other kids and learn the language, and now she's suddenly in "real school" full days, every day.
They do like it though, so I think they'll be fine.
I do miss the wonderful playground back at their Finnish school....
Here the schools are so worried about getting sued, that kids are very limited to what they are allowed to do outside. Sad.
Fortunately at home it's not so strict!, they can be outside an do what they want.
One of our girls, she's our 3rd oldest, actually told me the other day that she misses walking home from school! In Finland she and her younger sister walked or biked home on a regular basis, and even if it sometimes seemed like a chore then, she now misses it.
I personally like the convenience of school buses, but I can see her point.
It was a nice time to be outside, get some fresh air and peace and quiet after being in school all day.
Right now we live off of a buys road too, so they can't go walking or biking around here.
So, whenever we are able to buy a house, I'll definitely keep that in mind! (that there will be walking and biking trails close by)
Well, most of the time it feels good and right to be back here.
I do however catch myself missing things from Finland.
I know I'll miss part of the winter.
Not the darkness or -35 C, but when there's tons of white, fluffy, sparkly snow on a cloudless winter's day.
The nature and the trails I often walked.
I remember my last few months in Finland, especially if I was out for a walk, thinking
"THIS I will miss"
There are trails and nature around here as well, but not right outside my door!
You don't end up going as often if you have to drive somewhere.
It feels good to miss some things, it's a sign that living there was a treasured experience.
And it also make the things we like here more clear and obvious.
Well, our life is buys and I just realized I need to start preparing for Christmas soon!
It will be fun to show the little kids all the decorations and things that they do different here.
And I'm sure we'll miss more than one thing from overseas........
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
"Oh, the places you'll go!"
The title of this blog is stolen from one of my favorite Dr.Seuss children's books.
A book about a successful future for anyone willing to try.
Willing to try, regardless of the end result.
And if you follow the author's magic formula, you will succeed.
One hundred percent guaranteed.
This book, with its messages, makes me think of my sister.
My younger sister.
I have 6 sisters actually, 3 older and 3 younger.
This one is the 2nd youngest.
From a very young age she was well ahead of the game with her unusually early speech.
She spoke fluently by 18 months, knew the whole family's birthdays before her 2nd birthday (12 people).
When she was 3 years and 5 months old, she taught herself to read.
By four she was writing short stories, with very few spelling errors.
Maybe thanks to her having so many siblings, my parents encouraged her, but didn't make a big deal about her special gifts.
First and foremost she was a child.
And my mom let her be just that as long as she wanted.
She was, however, very, very creative, and there were many nights when she and my youngest sister would be up late at night working on some craft project.
They had ridiculous goals at times.
Like "We have to use all this material before we can go to bed!".
(they were around 7-8).
One remarkable story is from when she was three years old.
My dad asked her:
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
To which she replied:
"I want to work in an office where you draw houses for people" (this is more or less what she said)
Well. 19 years later she graduated from college in Minneapolis with a diploma that let her do just that.
Remember, she grew up in Sweden and figured out, more or less by herself, how to make it possible to attend college in the States.
So, she drew houses. And successfully so.
People would ask for "The Swedish girl" to do their drawings.
Then she got married and God blessed their marriage with a little boy.
I told her, while she was pregnant, to be prepared to become restless as a stay at home mom.
She didn't think that was going to happen, but I still told her that, just in case that day comes, don't feel bad if you want to work part time. Knowing her busy, creative mind, I could see her brain burning from not getting enough use.
Well. Little baby boy wasn't old before she drew houses part time again.
When the little boy was 1 1/2 they were blessed with a little girl, and mom had to slow down a bit.
Fast forward 6 years in time.
This dear sister is now a mother of 5.
You'd think by now she'd be busy enough, or just simply not have the time anymore, to create etc.
Wrong.
This girl is busier than ever!
She's gone from drawing houses to designing fabrics on www.spoonflower.com
She has been very successful with the designs, and she branched out by making baby/children's clothing from the designs that she got printed.
Now she has a growing business on www.etsy.com, she's been featured in magazines, had her clothing design printed in a book, been contacted from many different places that are interested in her stuff.
This girl is definitely going places!!!
I will share a link to her blog where she shares her creativity, designs and clothes, and links to her store etc.
Pellerina Design
"Fnill" (that's her childhood nick name), God bless your success. I am so proud of you, and thankful that you are able to do these things that you truly love, on top of being a great mom and wife.
Just had to write this for you.... please don't shoot me.
Oh yeah, maybe the thing I love the most about her is how humble she is about her talent.
She honestly, truly never, ever does anything to draw attention to herself.
(if she was already good at that, I wouldn't have bothered writing this post!)
"Oh, the places you'll go!"
I can't wait to sit on the sidelines and just watch!
A book about a successful future for anyone willing to try.
Willing to try, regardless of the end result.
And if you follow the author's magic formula, you will succeed.
One hundred percent guaranteed.
This book, with its messages, makes me think of my sister.
My younger sister.
I have 6 sisters actually, 3 older and 3 younger.
This one is the 2nd youngest.
From a very young age she was well ahead of the game with her unusually early speech.
She spoke fluently by 18 months, knew the whole family's birthdays before her 2nd birthday (12 people).
When she was 3 years and 5 months old, she taught herself to read.
By four she was writing short stories, with very few spelling errors.
Maybe thanks to her having so many siblings, my parents encouraged her, but didn't make a big deal about her special gifts.
First and foremost she was a child.
And my mom let her be just that as long as she wanted.
She was, however, very, very creative, and there were many nights when she and my youngest sister would be up late at night working on some craft project.
They had ridiculous goals at times.
Like "We have to use all this material before we can go to bed!".
(they were around 7-8).
One remarkable story is from when she was three years old.
My dad asked her:
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
To which she replied:
"I want to work in an office where you draw houses for people" (this is more or less what she said)
Well. 19 years later she graduated from college in Minneapolis with a diploma that let her do just that.
Remember, she grew up in Sweden and figured out, more or less by herself, how to make it possible to attend college in the States.
So, she drew houses. And successfully so.
People would ask for "The Swedish girl" to do their drawings.
Then she got married and God blessed their marriage with a little boy.
I told her, while she was pregnant, to be prepared to become restless as a stay at home mom.
She didn't think that was going to happen, but I still told her that, just in case that day comes, don't feel bad if you want to work part time. Knowing her busy, creative mind, I could see her brain burning from not getting enough use.
Well. Little baby boy wasn't old before she drew houses part time again.
When the little boy was 1 1/2 they were blessed with a little girl, and mom had to slow down a bit.
Fast forward 6 years in time.
This dear sister is now a mother of 5.
You'd think by now she'd be busy enough, or just simply not have the time anymore, to create etc.
Wrong.
This girl is busier than ever!
She's gone from drawing houses to designing fabrics on www.spoonflower.com
She has been very successful with the designs, and she branched out by making baby/children's clothing from the designs that she got printed.
Now she has a growing business on www.etsy.com, she's been featured in magazines, had her clothing design printed in a book, been contacted from many different places that are interested in her stuff.
This girl is definitely going places!!!
I will share a link to her blog where she shares her creativity, designs and clothes, and links to her store etc.
Pellerina Design
"Fnill" (that's her childhood nick name), God bless your success. I am so proud of you, and thankful that you are able to do these things that you truly love, on top of being a great mom and wife.
Just had to write this for you.... please don't shoot me.
Oh yeah, maybe the thing I love the most about her is how humble she is about her talent.
She honestly, truly never, ever does anything to draw attention to herself.
(if she was already good at that, I wouldn't have bothered writing this post!)
"Oh, the places you'll go!"
I can't wait to sit on the sidelines and just watch!
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