Marja's Finland Trip-Back in Jyvaskyla

After leaving the big celebration in Juva, Kalevi drove us back to Jyvaskyla.

We went to see Tati, my nanny, who is not in good shape anymore.

My mom is exchanging news with Tati.

Tati and I.

Tati saying farewell to us. I'm hoping to see her in the summer. She is hoping that she will not live that long.

We went to Figaro for lunch with my mom. We had blinis which were so yummy. Yes, that white glob is sour cream and the orange is fish roe. Could lunch get any better than this? Don't think so.

Yes, they sell cow's blood in the grocery stores. If you haven't tried blood pancakes, you are lucky.

One of my favorite Finnish desserts. Mammi.

Looks like s*@t 

Yes, it looks like a cow had a crap on my plate.

But you cover that crap with plenty of sugar and cream and boy, it is yummy.

Before leaving to go home I went to see Tati one more time.  While I was there, her nurse came to see her and take her blood pressure.

Dinner with my sister, Riitta and her fiancé Sampsa at Fransmanni.

Yes, we look alike. I'm hoping I could be as beautiful at 85 as my mother is.

My mother on her cell phone outside of Sokos. Probably calling either a taxi or one of her friends. This woman leads a very busy life.

My dad passed away on March 13th 1997 and the date was close enough that we decided to take a candle to the memory grove at the cemetery in his memory.

Marja's Finland Trip Continues in Juva

Sirkka is getting ready for the big Kirkkoherra celebration

All done with primping.

Mr. and Mrs. Pylkkanen

Ake and Sirkka

Sirkka's new work place. Juva Lutheran Church.

Helena, Kalevi, my mom and Kimmo are walking to the church.

Kalevi and my mom walking up the church steps.

Sirkka is arriving in a processional.

The Bishop of Mikkeli Hiippakunta

Sirkka is giving an uplifting and sometimes funny sermon.

Sirkka is blessed and "set apart" as the new Juva Kirkkoherra.

Introducing Juva's new Kirkkoherra.

Sirkka's brother, Kalevi and his son Kimmo were in the attendance.

My mother, Sirkka's husband Ake and the Bishop's wife Maria.

My second cousin Suvi and her husband Reijo.

My cousin's grandson, Miro. The sweetest boy ever. I finally got him to smile.

The church service is finished and Sirkka and others are leaving.

My lovely relatives. So somber.

Ake watching his wife. So sweet.

My cousin Pauli (Miro's grandpa) and his girlfriend Aino.

The Finnish flag is flying in honor of Sirkka.

The arch outside of Juva church.

Sirkka, the happy Kirkkoherra.

Marja's Finland Trip March 1-11, 2012

I was talking with my cousin Sirkka a few months ago about her future career, and she mentioned that she was applying to be a Kirkkoherra in Juva, which is a near-by town close to Savonlinna. Sirkka is a female pastor in the Lutheran Church in Finland and the congregation in Juva wanted her to be their "Church Master" or the head of the Juva congregation. During our conversation I said that when that day comes, I will be there in the church pew celebrating this incredible honor.

And so the planning started. The celebration was set for March 4 in the Juva church. I bought tickets to depart on February 28th and arrive in Finland on February 29th so I could get rid of my jet lag before going to Juva.

Monday, February 27th Rod got extremely sick with stomach pains and Google told us that it might be an appendicitis. That night we went to the ER. They did an ultrasound and probed and kicked the tires and took blood and nothing was found. He was sent home. In the morning I canceled my trip. I was very worried about Rod and stayed home and took care of him that Tuesday. I called my mom and told her that I wasn't coming and she was so disappointed. On Wednesday morning Rod said that he was bored and went to work even though he still had stomach pains. At the same time I received a text message from my cousin Tommi who told me to re-purchase the ticket and just go. So I did.


Sleepy patient (Morphin induced) in the ER.

I left on Thursday morning via Detroit and Amsterdam, and arrived in Helsinki on Friday morning, March 2. I took the bus from Helsinki to Jyväskylä and hugged my mother at the bus terminal around 6pm on Friday evening.

On Saturday morning Kalle and Kimmo came to pick us up on the way to Savonlinna. We ate lunch before we left and an hour later we stopped for coffee, drinks and pastries at a Pieksämäki café. 15 minutes later we stopped for ice-cream in the middle of nowhere at a creamery. You know you are in Finland when you eat at least every 2 hours. We continued our trip to Sirkka's house, where we ate before we left for dinner. After dinner we came back to Sirkka's house for dessert and then to a sauna. After sauna we ate again. I think I gained 10 lbs in one day. But it was all so wonderful. It was so nice to be with all of my relatives.


My mom with her ice-cream. This is my favorite picture of her.

When we drove to Sirkka's house, Suvi (my second cousin) and her husband Reijo were there already. They had arrived from Helsinki that afternoon. We piled into cars and drove to downtown Savonlinna for dinner.


Kalle (Sirkka's brother) and Kimmo (Kalle's son) at Majakka restaurant in Savonlinna.

Reijo, Ake (Sirkka's husband) and Suvi at Majakka.

Teemu (Teea's fiance) and Teea (Helena and Väiski's daughter)

Helena (Sirkka's sister) and Väiski (Helena's husband)

My mom Tuovi, me and Sirkka

My mom had gotten a family gift for Sirkka and here she gave a speech to Sirkka.

My mom and Sirkka

Sirkka's new Kalevala cross.

Sirkka and her new cross around her neck.

We went back to Sirkka's house for the night and the women went to the sauna first and then the men. It was so nice to chat with Sirkka and Suvi in the sauna. Then it was time for bed. Ake gave me his bed so I could get a good night's sleep. He slept on the couch with Illi and Pessi. Sorry Ake.

Ake and Pessi before going to bed.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Sirkka.

End of Basketball Season

To finish up the basketball season with the rest of the JV games, this is how it went:

MV vs. Maple Mountain 59-43 Win
MV vs. Timpanogos 77-44 Win
MV vs. Orem 57-60 Loss (last second loss)
MV vs. Salem Hills 73-61 Win
MV vs. Springville 61-68 Loss

We had 8 wins and 6 losses.
Now we look forward to the spring and summer tournaments that start in April and go all through June.

Sweethearts' Dance Pictures

Thanks to Tyler's mom Jeselyn, I was able to get some of the pictures from the Sweethearts' Dance. She is an amazing photographer and so creative after taking the pictures. So, huge THANK YOU to her!


Hunter and Alex


The Boys: Alex, Austin, Tyler, Omar, Christian and Kyle

The girls with Omar. Kyla, Elyza, Lauren, Omar, Kylee and Louisa. Hunter is doing the splits on the floor. Ouch! Hopefully Jana's pants didn't rip.

Girls' closeup: Kayla, Elyza, Lauren, Louisa, Hunter and Kylee

The whole group

That's a fun background.

Groovy Baby!

Sweethearts' Dance 2.11.12

Today was the Sweethearts' Dance at the high school. 7 couples were in Alex's group and if you read my earlier post, Alex asked Hunter to go with him. Their day date was to Boondocks in Sandy, but before they went there, all the boys spent a night at Kyle's house. Alex came home around 9:15 this morning from a sleepover and looked quite tired. All the 6 boys had slept on Kyle's bed.

After Boondocks, the girls and boys got ready in their 70s clothes and then went to Tyler's house for pictures and then to dinner to the Olive Garden and finally to the dance at the high school. Around 10:30 the whole group came to our house to watch a movie because the dance was so "lame".

Alex is picking up Hunter. When Quinn saw Alex he said:"You look like me!" and "those clothes are nice". So funny. But I must say, looking at this picture, Alex looks almost identical to Quinn...except Alex has hair.