Chin Up

"Chin up, Chin up,
Put a little laughter in your eyes.
Brave it, save it,
Even though you're feeling otherwise.
Rise up, wise up,
Make a little smile begin.
You'll be happy hearted
Once you get it started.
Up with your chinny chin chin!"
- Charlotte's Web

You would think that the move to Finland was going to be challenging enough for me. 5230 miles is a long way from my mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, best friend, etc...but anyone that has ever met me knows that I love a challenge. Little did I know the dark winter that is slowly approaching would be the last of my worries.

So lets all hope bad things really happen in spurts of 3. Maybe my stretch is over. In less than 5 months of living here I have lost my father, been stuck in an airport where a major terrorist attack was exposed, and miscarried.

My last episode happened this week. Unfortunately, I had to visit the maternity hospital 7 months earlier than planned. Despite the outcome, it was a great experience. The nurses were compassionate and caring, everyone I encountered spoke enough English to communicate, and my doctors were wonderful. The only down side was the hospital still believes in 'visitation hours.' Loved ones are only allowed on the floors from 1400-1900 daily. That left me alone in a white, cold hospital room for 4 hours with another patient I knew nothing about. The time passed quickly along with the tears and I was home in time to enjoy dinner with my family.

Seagull

"Seagull, you fly, across the horizon,
Into the misty morning sun.
Nobody asks you where you are going,
Nobody knows where you are from...
Seagull you fly, seagull you fly away."
- Bad Company

Months ago on the first bearable day for us to venture outside, I took a loaf of bread to feed the ducks. This was something we did quite often back at home. It was nice seeing the boys faces light up as ducks surrounded us at the neighborhood pond.

Toolo Bay is less a few blocks from our home. Through narrow canals it is connected to the Baltic Sea. The path that surrounds it measures a little over a mile and is always busy with pedestrians, cyclers, strollers, etc. That memorable day in April, the boys and I walked to Toolo Bay with our loaf in hand. We found a grassy area where a few ducks were trying to stay warm in a huddle. I decided this would be a great place to let the boys run and crumble the bread. Walkers began to look at me oddly, wondering was I was up to. "Do people not feed the ducks here in Finland?" was on the tip of my tongue...before I realized what was happening.

Within a few seconds, ONE MILLION seagulls surrounded me and my two precious gifts from God. They were only thinking one thing..."Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine"...yes, just like on 'Finding Nemo.' I immediately threw both boys into the stroller, dropped the bread and ran for our lives. I do not think the ducks even got a snack that day.

Needless to say, we do not feed the ducks any more and now I know why everyone was staring at us. I guess we are not the only people who have had that idea because since then, the city has posted this sign. And according to the Helsinki news, the seagulls are a problem everywhere!

Pictures

"Pictures of a life we've made together.
Memories of a love that just gets better with time.
So many good times,
There's no way I will forget.
They've got me thinkin' 'bout pictures,
We haven't taken yet."
- John Michael Montgomery


And I thought I would never share or see them again. Our last piece of luggage was FINALLY delivered to us today...10 days after returning home! Following hours and hours of downloading, I am happy to share some of our vacation memories with you.

I hope you enjoy!

Greece: Family Vacation

Greece: Kos and its history

Greece: the island of Kos

London: Family Vacation

Things I Miss The Most

"Somebody to trust.
The Audi TT.
The house on the Vineyard.
The house on the gulf coast.
These are the things I miss the most."
- Steely Dan

We are quickly approaching our 5 month anniversary of living abroad. That is 5 months to explore the city, 5 months to familiarize ourselves with the Finnish way of life, 5 months to learn our way around, and 5 months to realize this is our "home."

The time has also made me aware of what I miss the most. Top of the list...friends and family of course (which also brought along FREE babysitting). Stores...Target and Costco. Restaurants...Gloria's, Double Daves, and Starbucks (I did get my fix in London). Around the house...ICE MAKER, our Freezerator, garbage disposal, an upright vacuum, a master bath, garage for our strollers, and a yard to play, grill, and work in.

There are some things we do not miss too! Red ozone alert days with temperatures exceeding 100, electric/gas bills that are almost 1/2 your monthly mortgage, owning a car and all the maintenace it requires (gas is 1.52 Euros/liter here = $7.48 a gallon), and daily news that includes the words murder, shooting, homicide, etc.


Comparing the two lists...one must sacrifice but gets rewarded in other ways!

Marathon

"You can do a lot in a lifetime,
If you don't burn out too fast.
You can make the most of the distance,
First you need endurance.
First you've got to last..."
- Rush


I should have been a participant rather than a spectator today at the Helsinki City Marathon. Since I have not been training seriously since I ran The Half last November, I decided to sit out.

The boys enjoyed cheering on the runners in the Olympic Staduim built in 1952. The winner completed the 26.2 mile course in 2 hours 18 minutes...only 18 minutes shy of my final time (for a half marathon that is!)