The uglyness of life
By eija | September 2, 2010 | No Comments »
Miss 10 called me from school, crying. The class was told today that one of their friends has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. I don’t know how bad it is or is it treatable, just that this sweet 10-year old girl has a brain tumor.
She’s a sweetest girl. Quiet, shy, always with very good manners. She’s the kind of girl that seems to be smiling even when she’s not. And looks as if no illness could ever touch her! She loves dogs like crazy. I remember when she didn’t have one of her own and she came to Miss 10’s birthdays. She didn’t do pretty much anything else but pat Pepe and talk to me about dogs. Then she finally got a dog of her own – and couldn’t have been happier! However, that little dog didn’t even reach her first birthday before she suddenly died of cancer. Now she’s got another dog and just lives for her – goes straight home to take care of her dog, takes her for walks and makes sure the little pooch has everything she needs. And now this sweet girl has a horrible illness like that.
Miss 10 sounded totally upset. And I can understand that. I would even if she wasn’t that sensitive, but she is! And she’s witnessed so much of this life’s uglyness already. Not only has she lost three loved dogs but her grandfather died when she was just a baby, two of her father’s cousins have died of cancer, her two uncles have died at young age, her grandmom almost died of the side effects of cancer treatment… It’s too much even for me so much more for a girl like her.
Sometimes it’s very difficult to praise the Lord and believe that He has everything in control, despite the bad and ugly things.
-e-
Topics: Life
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Busy days
By eija | September 1, 2010 | 1 Comment »
For some my life seems to be rather busy these days. Well, that’s only one side of it. Yes, it’s active, with two girls and their hobbies in addition to my own interests. There’s riding, steeple chase, guitar lessons, agility… that with blogging, photography, church… plus all the “normal” stuff in life. Lorna said today it’s good I get to work to rest! Yep. Work is boring, very slow (as in non-existent) and that doesn’t do good to me. But other than that life is pretty good.
Yesterday I had my weekly dosage of horsie therapy again. I rode this sabino-coloured horse and he was just great. I had to work to get what I wanted but when I did things right he willingly obeyed. And the gallop was so much fun – and Miss 13 praised me of one particular strike off to canter.
Oh and the autumn is here. The temps have fallen so that Mr Right lit the fireplace yesterday – and the horsies didn’t spend their night outside anymore but stayed in the stables.
Miss 10 has a sports day at school today. The weather isn’t exactly on their favour – this was my windscreen when I drove to work at the same time they were supposed to be walking to the sports field…
This time the start of September marks off as something else too: The Eyes of Faith photo challenge starts officially today. There’s still time to join us! You don’t need to be a photographer, you don’t need special writing skills. You only need some device – a camera, a mobile phone with a camera… - to take photos with and a blog.
During the “warm-up” I’ve been very surprised how God can really talk via some daily themes. Join in and discover the same!
-e-
Topics: Life
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How to make cotton candy/candy floss
By eija | August 29, 2010 | 1 Comment »
[linguistic rant]First, let me tell you that to me the Brittish word for it sounds like doing dental care with sugar…[/end of linguistic rant]
My previous post made R and Lorna wonder how is it possible to make cotton candy at home. Well, it’s not difficult – but you need a special machine for it. We bought it from a toy department several years ago, but since then I’ve seen more “professional” looking ones in domestic appliance stores.
First let the machine warm up for a while. Then add one teaspoon of granulated sugar into the “spinner”.
The candy starts to develop right away :)
Then just spin the stuff together using a paper twist.
Of course Mr Right had to stick his own fingers cookie stick into it…
The finished product looks like this. They’re small and cute, about the size of my fist.
Then just go for it and enjoy the unevitable sugar rush!
Miss 13 tried it for breakfast today – on her sandwich :D
Topics: Life
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This week in short
By eija | August 25, 2010 | 4 Comments »
The autumn has really arrived. The heatwave is gone and instead we’re having cold nights, chilly mornings, rain and grey days. It’s melancholic to think that soon the birds will go, the trees will drop their leaves and the world will be dark, wet and gloomy again. But I’m trying not to worry about it in advance. And after all the sun this summer I don’t even mind the rain.
This week… it’s only Thursday evening and I feel that a lot has happened.
- On Sunday Mr Right’s aunt celebrated her 85th birthday. Only a few weeks after burying her oldest daughter. She’s an amazing lady. I can’t help but admire her – how she survives all the really tough things in her life, quietly, with a solid trust in God. And never, ever says anything negative about anyone.
- Sunday evening had a long thorough discussion with Miss 10 who was again afraid of (among other things) the end of the world. It was a really good discussion, I think it really helped her but also showed me something deeper from her. I knew that already but she really takes seriously stuff like sin and how she treats other people etc. It was a good chance to tell her how much I love her and admire her sensitivity and honesty and that I know it’s tough being so sensitive by nature. And that I’m glad that she’s able to talk to me about those fearful things. She wondered how I can manage with her “always being afraid of everything” – so I told her that when ever she comes to me with issues I always for the first thing ask Jesus for wisdom, and that the wisdom is promised to us in the Bible – we just need to ask for it. We also talked about defeating evil with Jesus’ name and how even Christians really aren’t perfect and many other things.
- Monday at work. I can’t say I welcomed the news I heard. There will be a lot of big changes in the company, starting really soon and continuing at least until next summer. And it’s mostly not so good. No, at least for now nobody is being fired, on the contrary, they’re hiring more people – but other kinds of changes. I’m waiting to see how it effects me. And maybe to hear God show me something else. Maybe. I don’t know.
- Tuesday, the highlight of the week – riding. Well, Miss 10 wasn’t feeling well so she stayed home from school, so she didn’t get to ride either. I was tired too and even the people at the riding school didn’t seem to be in that good mood but it was still great to ride and hug MLM again.
- Wednesday, Miss 13’s turn to be feeling under the weather and staying home from school. Miss 10’s ankles were causing trouble during her pe class and the teacher wouldn’t believe her and still made her walk some more, so she was crying because of the pain when she got home. But we found her a good pair of sneakers and they seemed to help both her spirits and the hurting feet. On Thursday I equipped her with a note to teacher that I don’t allow her participating in the pe on Thursday. I also told the teacher in the note that the ankles are being followed by a physiotherapist and that I didn’t like that she didn’t listen to Miss 10 telling her about the pain.
- Today – Thursday – at work. A meeting, a new project that I’m really sceptical about. I’ve been wrestling with those issues in a smaller scale for years and years. Now working in a much larger scale with a bunch of people who don’t seem to understand how vast the task really is. Ah, well – I reckon they’ll learn it soon enough. After the meeting my second computer screen had gone mute. The second time. Wondering why the company uses such lousy monitors…
- After work I took a nap. Again. Then the girls and I went shopping for stuff for Miss 10’s birthday party tomorrow. She’s really excited about it but I can’t wait it to be over. In my book there’s “nothing” planned and the normal life without funerals and birthdays and this and that can finally start. Can’t.Wait.
So, tomorrow I’ll be making cotton candy for a bunch of 10-year olds.
-e-
Topics: Life
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mundane
By eija | August 21, 2010 | 1 Comment »
i’m sitting in mr right’s car in front of the hardware store. Didn’t bother going in. So far i’ve interviewed three sales persons about our possibilities for enhancing our wireless connections at home. Yeah boring i know.??Lorna was here for a couple a days and at least i think we had a great time. Been a while since we’ve met face to face.
(From mobile phone)
Topics: Life
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It is time
By eija | August 16, 2010 | 1 Comment »
It says in the Bible that there’s time for everything. And we all know that the Book tells the truth, right?
The time to go to bed has way gone but I’m still up. Yep.
Tomorrow (actually, in the morning) it’s time for me to go to work again. And again I’ll be very tired. Because I didn’t go to bed when it was time for that and also because this weekend it was time to do a lot of things so I haven’t actually been resting.
On Friday the relatives came over to celebrate Miss 10’s birthday. I don’t like those gatherings because they’ve always used to speak anything they want to even if there are kids around. And Miss 10 is too sensitive to handle it – so we usually end up with a more or less hysterical child who’s afraid of everything that was discussed. Yes, I have mentioned it to them. No, it did not have much effect…
On Saturday it was time to go shopping. Because, as you know, the kids grow. And when they grow all their clothes end up being too tight or too short or too anything. So we had a girls’ day out in Helsinki, together with one of Miss 13’s friends. Shopping isn’t necessarily fun but it has its moments – if things go smoothly. Surprisingly Miss 13 wasn’t too picky this time and even with not one but TWO teens, we still managed to avoid any scenes of teen angst. :D And the girls got at least the basics of what they needed. Me? Yeah, I absolutely hate shopping clothes for myself. I always think that “yeah, ok, just let me lose some 20 kg first”. And you guessed it – I never lose them. So I walk around in t-shirts older than my kids and shop for cameras and computers and other stuff “more fitting”.
It’s also time for the girls to go back to school after the long, very hot summer. Miss 13 hates her cycling helmet. It looks horrible she says. So she rather walks to school than uses the horrible helmet. I’m glad that she’s honest about not wanting to use the helmet – most kids would just take it off when they get around the corner – but I guess it’s time for us to have a talk about daring to be different.
The Eyes of Faith photo challenge hasn’t even started officially and it’s already giving me a lot – but I’ll write about that in a different post. On Saturday it was time to take a picture with motion blur and I did that while in the shopping centre. I’m pretty pleased with the pic. Today it was time to take a pic with hard light and sharp shadows and that’s how this post got its title. There’s still time for anyone to join us, please do so! You don’t have to post every day, you don’t even have to follow the daily assignments. Just join us and then participate when you can and the way you feel right for you. Ok? And if you need help I’ll try my best to help you if you just ask.
Now it’s high time to say good night. Mr Right is already happily snoring in the next room!
-e-
Topics: Life
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Celebration time
By eija | August 11, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Today is an important day – a day of transformation: Miss 9 becomes Miss 10 :)
When I was less than two months pregnant with her I started bleeding. The doctors said (on the phone) that the baby is probably gone by now – merry christmas, go see a doctor after the holiday. Well, I didn’t. I went to a private doctor who did an ultra and told me that the baby was just fine and strong and told me to rest. Now, ten plus years ago that little miscarriage has turned into a wonderful young girl :)
Miss 10 is a cheerful, energetic, outgoing person, talkative and sometimes a bit boyish – and likes to play with boys. She’s very honest with a strict conscience. She’s also very sensitive, which makes life rather scary for her sometimes. And when something is bothering her she gets physical symptoms – but I’m glad she’s learned to tell me about those things. And she’s smart enough to avoid listening/watching to those scary things.
She loves horses and dogs beyond measure. Especially one black little pony at the riding school, and the two brown little pooches at home. But she also loves her mom and dad and she shows and tells that too. And her big sister… She loves her so much, too – even if Miss 13 is in a difficult age :)
Happy birthday, honey. I love you and I’m proud of you!
Topics: Life
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Girl with curls
By eija | August 9, 2010 | Comments Off
When I was a kid I had a thick, long, blonde, straight hair. Just like Miss 13 has now. I always wished to have born with dark brown curls. Over the years my hair has darkened a bit – but not really in a good way: Now they are as we say in Finland, “maantienväriset” – “country road colour”. Plus some of it is turning grey…
When the girls were born I suddenly had a curly hair. Fuzzy, stubborn curls. They do not like the hairbrush or the comb – those tools make me look like a blonde version of Tina Turner. Usually I just wash my hair, dry a bit with a towel, shake and then let it dry. Normal routine when I go to church on Sundays, if a certain friend is there, is that he scolds me for having tampered the wall sockets again…
And my hair sure doesn’t like moist air! Remember the episode of Friends where Ross was invited to give a speech in a conference in Barbados and all his friends travelled with him. What I’m talking about is Monica’s hair, how the tropical humidity made her hair go all wild. Well, is it enough to tell you that this summer the weather in Finland has been hot and humid, like in tropic. Sigh. That has meant my hair go wilder and wilder. I’ve already given up trying to do anything to it. Today a pastor friend came by a bit suddenly. When he saw me his eyes fell open and something came out of his mouth – something he was desperately trying to make sound like a compliment!
Ah, well, soon it’ll be autumn again. With the rains that make everything go moist… And then winter, with sleet and stuff like that – which has a similar effect on my hair as the tropical moisture. But it’s my own fault: I wanted curls! I think I’ve told you before:
Be careful what you ask from God – you might actually get it!
-e-
Topics: Life
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Weekend
By eija | August 8, 2010 | 2 Comments »
It was a wise decision to start work after vacation with a two-day week. Now a normal weekend still feels like a holiday :)
Monday and Tuesday we went to the riding school again, after a month’s break. It was good to see the horses and the people again – and the owner greeted me so warmly that it still lightens my day :) And MLM, who normally happily goes back to his pen after the class now didn’t want to stay there but kept pushing the door open again and again when I tried to leave :D
Tuesday evening we stayed to watch a steeple chase class – it rained a bit (no more than a couple of lousy drops) but it was enough to bring the mosquitoes out again. The result: My feet have been swollen and itchy and flaming red ever since. Today they finally seem a bit better, but still not all good. Those nasty little creatures are one thing I sure don’t miss in the winter!
A couple of days it was almost cool (ahhhhhhh….) but the weekend is very hot again, Sunday even hotter than Saturday (and it was too much for me already). Next week should be “only” 25, which is too much for me to go riding, so I’m hoping it’ll be cooler by the time our class starts in the evening.
The Eyes of Faith photo challenge will start officially in a couple of weeks. Please join us! It’s all about trying to find and get closer to God, by means of photography. Yes, we have certain rules for the challenge, but I like to think of them more as “guidelines” or “suggestions” or “directions towards inspiration”. So join us, and do the challenge the way you think is right for you! Ok?
-e-
Topics: Life
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Plinky beats blogger’s block
By eija | August 2, 2010 | Comments Off
Blogger’s block? Ever heard of that? Ever had that yourself? I know I have. But you know, there’s a remedy for that!
Overcome Writer’s Block With Plinky Prompts
by Joy Victory
Do you ever think “Ugh, I’d totally write a new blog post, if I just had something to say?” Or maybe, “I’m sick and tired of writer’s block but I don’t know what to do about it!”
We’ve all been there — those days when the light bulb seems dim, if not burned out. To give you a little creative push and get that writerly mojo flowing again, we’ve added a new service called Plinky.com.
The entire text is here.
With Plinky you get prompts about random things. You can go see them from the Plinky site or order them to your e-mail daily or weekly. If you’re registered and logged in when you write an answer to a prompt at the Plinky site you can post it to your blog with one click (although at least to my blog it gave a post with a huge white cap at the end) – or publish it in Facebook or Twitter.
My previous post was an answer to Plinky’s prompt yesterday. Fun :) Try it out! Today’s prompt is “Name a movie that moved you.”
-e-
Topics: Life
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