Maritima Heavenly

Monday.

2012-01-23T19:32:00.000+01:00

How is it possible that the first day of the new week can be so slow and that I feel so tired. I have really tried to stay up today and kept on going with studies and other assignments. I have not even been out doors. And that is crazy. Well, I just picked up the mail. I walk and feel like a half zombie in some way. But this will pass to and I am glad that there is a reason for this slow and tired feeling. I woke up really early and have been up since then.

I found this cute picture of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet and I have shared it on Facebook, but I thought that could do so here too. So enjoy.

Soon my dad will phone me and tell the latest news about mum and all the happenings over there. It has been a lot and mum have been sick - probably flu and my dad is stressed and this comes out as pains and tiredness. I try to tell him to take it easy. Sometimes it is like talking to a wall.

Have a marvelous new week and take care.

Hugs, Niina

2012!

2012-01-03T18:25:00.000+01:00

So, now it is here. The new year 2012. We celebrated just calmly with good food and watching the fireworks. And the new year we started by watching some programs about the year 2012 and Nostradamus and other prophets. It was interesting. Mostly thoughtful was the questions about what would happen the next day or the next year, if this would be the last year - ever. Well, who knows. If it is the end, it is the end.

Most of these programs we watched pointed out that the 21st December 2012, will be the last day. It is the most important date, that most of us are looking forward to, with feeling of excitement, anxiety and even keen interest. As we know, there have been a lot of debate about this. And we all make our own speculations on these mysterious news. The Mayan calendar started this debate, but we do not know if it is the end or a new beginning of something else. Why must it be the end?

How it may be, we need to know that we can never speculate or justify this, unless we are fully updated about the Mayans and their culture and what they believe. News and others just speed things up, based on human fear. And what does the Bible say?

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

It is...

2011-12-30T00:49:00.000+01:00

...late and I am sitting here on my childhood bed. I have been at my parent's place since some days and tomorrow is my last day here. I wanted to visit my parents to see how they are doing. Especially mum after her rough month. She has been rather good. She is not herself yet and I think that she will never be, but I have seen some small amounts of her old self. She has a long way to come back after the stroke and we just hope that she can one day stand on her two feet, because that would give her some freedom. Otherwise she is rather ok, as I wrote. She talks a little, eats really good and tries to do something new every day.

Christmas was calm - well, as calm as it can be with my last big moments in my studies to do and us being sick with the flu. But we made the best of it and it was nice. No snow, but nice. New Year will be calm too. I need to relax, so I get rid of the flu and have energy to start my studies again after the little break I have had during this week.

It has been a very stormy day over here in Gothenburg. Mostly the wind blowed as hard as 26 m/s or as in some places nearby, around 30 m/s. We had a class 2 warning over here. Class 3 is the highest. Tomorrow I hope it will be a sunny and lovely day when I take the train back home. I have heard that there is an class 2 warning there where I live, because of the cold weather and slippery roads. Hope that all goes well. The rest of the family are visiting my mother-in-law and will travel back home too.

Well, better sleep now. Happy 2012!

Feeling like an old towel.

2011-12-07T15:08:00.001+01:00

The last week has been different. We all have been sick - fever, sore throat, sneezing, eye infection, coughing and other not so fun things. And now I have started to feel that my body aches. Shoulders, back, arms...flu, thank you. But even this will pass. Someday. If it does not go around another time, it usually does. I have not had any energy to clean, prepare for Christmas, bake or cook. I just hope that I will get some energy soon.

In my studies I got some energy yesterday. I got my results for the last part of the course, 15 points in peace and conflict. I got something that is called VG - Väl Godkänd in Swedish. It is an A!! I am so happy and it feels great! Even if I am a little bit surprised, but that feeling left me fast! So, this A gave me energy and I could do some more studies.

We got some snow last night and today. It looks so nice and white. I wish for some cold weather too, that the snow would stay. Now it is rather wet and slippery. But it is snow!

Have a nice new week and take care.

Hugs, Niina

A rough and tough week...

2011-11-28T01:10:00.001+01:00

Sitting here in front of my MacBook and wondering about the week that have passed. I feel that the cold I had a while ago is slowly coming back. I feel tired and "hängig" as we say it in swedish, meaning out of sorts. It has been tough week lately and that is why it was so nice today, this 1st Advent to enjoy a lovely time at the church and after that watch the dance show where our oldest daughter is one of the dancers. She told us several times that she is no good and misses some steps here and there. I do not know why she said that, because she did not miss a step. Maybe she just wanted us to lower our expectations? Her group was really lovely and danced great! She wants to dance next year too. And so does the youngest one too. It will be her first year then.

Last week and some of this week I visited my parents. I wanted to help my dad with some things and errands. And then I wanted to visit mum. It was a little bit scary the first time, but she was doing better than expected. She was tired, had problems to talk and eat, but she could smile and hold hands and listen. And with some stubbornness even say some words. But on Saturday something changed and when we came to visit her at the retirement home, it was too much activity around her. Nurses, helpers and an ambulance on the way. They told us that little mum had not eaten, had trouble to breath and did not react on touch. So, from the retirement home is was straight to the hospital. Mum in an ambulance and we in a car after. It was a strange feeling and very stressful to us, but mostly to mum. At the hospital they took tests and the doctor talked to us about mum and her sickness. She said that it was her heart and lungs. If this happens again and something goes wrong, she said, we would like to have an OK from you, that we will not help her back to life. I heard myself translate this to dad and heard him and me say yes and then I heard the doctor say that it is better for her. Inside I screamed NO, NO, NO. Who am I, my dad and the doctor to take such a decision? The doctor went and it was silent in the room. In my head, my soul I just could hear the doctors words "it is better for her, it is better this way"... It hurt, it was sad, it was unreal.

Mum had some problems with her heart, lungs and the other health issues made her so sick. We watched her the whole time, especially her breathing. Every time she stopped, even we did so. I have never been so afraid.

Now my mother are at a new retirement home. She got a lot of help at the hospital and even if she is not well, she is not in a bad condition either. It could be better, but after the stroke we need to take one day at a time. She needs a lot of help and dad does not have the energy, so now we are waiting for a her own room at a retirement home. Dad can visit, take her out and even home for a while. This is not what we thought it would be. We do not want to have her at a retirement home, but...well, we hope for the best.

And with some prayers...

Have a blessed new week and take care!

Hugs, Niina

Esther - Some new photos.

2011-11-16T13:37:00.001+01:00

It has been a while, since I posted some photos of Esther, my ball jointed doll from Dollmore. So here comes some, that I took during the summer. I use my iPhone and some apps for fun. Have a marvelous day. Hugs, Niina

As a woman...

2011-11-12T19:47:00.001+01:00

I can be pretty tough on myself. And I think that even other women feel that they can be pretty tough on themselves. We nurture others, but we neglect our own needs and desires. We really pour into others, but never quite pursue fully the dreams and talents and...and we offer forgiveness to others, but hold tightly to self-condemnation.

I can really feel like that, right now, right here. I am tough on myself and really push it sometimes too hard. Others tell me to take it easy, rest and just let someone take care of things needed to take care off. You (me, myself and I) do not have to do all things. Since my mother ended up at the hospital I have been trying to study, help dad, help mother-in-law, cook, clean, study some more, shop for groceries and help some more again. I feel that my shoulders are becoming my new ear-rings and it would be so nice with a massage on the neck, shoulders and upper back.

Mum is at a retirement home, for two weeks, during they plan what will happen to her. Dad is nervous, because he sees that he can not take care of her as he has done before. I will travel back home for some days soon, to help, talk and be with them when they plan. I do not like it, non of us likes it – but we think it is time to place her at retirement home, for good. It hurts and feels wrong, but there is a purpose for these homes, is it not so? Mum does not recognize dad when he visit her daily.

It is tough to accept this situation and even to understand how we ended up here. How can it be that my mother – the bright and full with life – suddenly are not far away from the opposite? Dad asked me that yesterday. He could not understand how it became like this. And neither do I.

I just hope that mum is doing well, in her own new world. And I hope that she can express herself if she needs something. I am afraid of meeting her. What will I meet? Does she know me? Will she look small and ”away”?

Have a blessed weekend. Hugs, Niina

Some news

2011-10-25T21:03:00.000+02:00

My dad phoned me earlier this evening and he had been at the hospital, visiting mum. She was not in any good shape and it has turned in to worse the latest days. Some days ago she was more happy and had even energy to talk. But this time she did not say anything. Just stared at the roof. Did not react on the things dad said and the nurses said that they tried to get her up from the bed and walk, but it did not go so well. What happened, he does not know, but mum had difficulties to breath. Dad is a little nervous about her coming home and that he will not have the energy enough to do the things needed. There will be a meeting and a talk about this, a new plan will be made for her homecoming. But when, we do not know.

Otherwise the week has been filled with studies. This week I read a book called "In God's Name, Genocide and Religion in the 20th Century". It is interesting, but even hard to read about. In some weeks there will be exams, I think. I have not heard any about this, but I think so. This week I will write an essay, around 700-1000 words.

Well, now I am 40 years old. We celebrated it with a dinner at a restaurant, cards, presents and love. It was nice to just be with the ones I love. And the next day we had some thunder and lightning over here. I was so surprised because it had not been so warm during the day.

But the Fall is here. It is darker, the days are shorter and I feel that there is a lot to do. So better keep on studying.

Have a great new week and take care.

Hugs, Niina

Mother at the hospital

2011-10-18T19:10:00.000+02:00

This day could have started better. I got a phone call from my father and I could hear in his voice that something was wrong. He sounded nervous and did not really know how to put the things he wanted to say into words. But he finally said that mother is acting strange. He can not get any contact with her and she does not react on things he says, does, shows or even to touch. She just is. It is just like she does not see or hear me. And that was scary, he said. I could not understand what had happened and he told me that help was on the way. He has been at the hospital with her and promised to phone me when he know some more.

At the same time I have been following the news about an old lady from Ukraine. She is living here in Sweden with her family – children and grandchildren. Her husband died some years ago and since then she has developed dementia. Her names is Ganna and she is 91-years old. Her doctor says that she is no condition to travel to Ukraine, even if the Swedish Migration Board wants to send her back and not let her stay here in Sweden. She has no family in Ukraine. No one here really understand how they can be so cold hearted at the Swedish Migration Board and not read the doctor's letter that says that she could risk her life if she would be sent back to Ukraine. A flight for some hours would be a shock for her and her weak heart. I know this too, because my mother can not take a smaller trip or we can not visit her as a family because all these things make her nervous and she does not know what is happening.

People started to react and act and after some hours her deportation was stopped and the Swedish Migration Board will look into her case again. I just hope that this time it will be a more happier result.

Hope that you had a better day. Hugs, Niina

That was that.

2011-09-25T20:41:00.000+02:00

This week is soon over and a new one is here tomorrow. This week has been...well...just been filled up with things. Thoughts. Happenings. Mostly studies. I am studying Master Programme in Religion in Peace and Conflict and these weeks have been interesting. I have been reading three books about social movements, Gandhi and Robert Coles book about the Call of Service, a pulitzer price winner! Then We have been asking questions to our class-mates and writing letters to activists. Every week we have a book to read and tasks to do.

Then I have been thinking a lot about my mother with her dementia. It has been hard years lately and even if she has had her dementia since 2002 it has been years filled with hope, tears, stress, wishes, anxiety and more hope. Not until 2007 the doctors found out that something is wrong. And before that I have been talking to many doctors, who do not listen. The worst kind is the ones who laugh. Right in my face and just say that there is nothing wrong, she is just old. Well. She is born 1930 but has always been active and smart. I can see the change - I am her daughter. And another thing that is bad, is the rest of the family and relatives. They do not phone, visit or send letters. They have slowly turned their backs. I can understand that this is an easier way to go instead of helping. It is not fun to visit either because she does not know who you are. But do it for my dad, who day after day takes care of her.

I visited my diabetes doctor some days ago and all was well, but it could be better. I am going to do my best to get better sugar levels and start to move. The surgery I had a year ago made me tired and all the things going on around me made me not want to do anything. But now! I will have a smaller check up in December to see how I am doing. I have lower sugar levels already after just a little change. Eating less.

But this made me get a bad headache the following day. It hurt during the whole day. I never have head ache, so it felt strange. And I just needed to be in a dark and quit room. But that day I had to do some shopping, bake, study....it was tough. And in the evening I fell asleep fast.

I hope that this coming week will be calmer.

Have a blessed new week.

Hugs, Niina

Sometimes...

2011-09-14T23:41:00.003+02:00

...I wonder why things happen. Is there a bigger reason that some things happen when they happen? Or is it just life? Or destiny? I do not know what the outcome is, but at the same time I am feeling that something is happening. A change of some kind. For good? For bad? Who knows. But one thing is for sure. I am ready. At first I felt a little bit worried, but now I feel ok. Change is good...

There will not be a a group for the candidates for confirmation on wednesdays. Even if we sent out a message for the ones that did not come the first week, no one came this week. Well, one boy. I said to him that he can join the Tuesday group, but he did not want that. Then I came up with an idea. Why not have a group with candidates for confirmation during some summer weeks? 1-2-3 weeks and then the confirmation, instead of during a longer time at the Autumn and Spring. The priest thought that it was a great idea and so did the boy. So, this is our new goal.

But still. Why do things like this happen? This changes a lot for me when it comes to the plans we had at work for the trips, camps and confirmation. Or am I just chopping and mincing things up with my thoughts?

Worth thinking about.

Have a blessed week.

Hugs, Niina

Studies, work and life

2011-09-08T08:45:00.000+02:00

Sometimes I wonder why things happen. If there is a reason that I should understand or if it is only life, my destiny that turn things to the way they are right now. I have a great life, I think. A family, a roof over my head, food on my table, my studies and work. It is an ordinary life in an ordinary town somewhere in an ordinary land.

My studies started some weeks ago and still it is going rather well. I have done the first assignment and are working now on the second one. I like it and it is interesting. The family-life is going well. I am healthy and so are the rest of the family. We spend a lot of time together - eat, talk, walk, play.

My first day at work started yesterday. It was the first day with a new group of young people who want to join the confirmation. I met the priest, my tutor and we prepared for the evening with information and we said that this group may have 10-15 youngsters who want to know more about the church and God. When it was time, only two had arrived. Two. Last year it was around 40. A difference with 38. That is a lot. I asked the priest how many the other group have and he said 19, mostly girls.

It did not add up and I did not really understand. We have always had two groups. One with aesthetical group and one ordinary group. Some years ago we had two ordinary groups and we still had around 35 candidates for confirmation. So, two...? We asked them if they wanted to join the other group and they said no, they want to go this group. I said that lets meet one more time, next week around the same time and send out some letters to the kids and see what happens.

And what will happen if there will not be more than 2 in this group? I really do not know. I have really no task in the other group and even if the priest is responsible for the both groups, he felt the same. We talked and wondered about if a change is on the way or if it was the weather (thunder storm) that made that just two came.

We will see next week. Until then life continues...

Have a nice day. Hugs, Niina

How to train your dragon

2011-09-03T20:45:00.003+02:00

In the mythical Viking world lives a Viking teenager named Hiccup. He aspires to follow his tribe's tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. But every time he tries something goes wrong and nobody really likes him.

After finally capturing his first dragon and with a chance to finally gain the tribe's acceptance, he finds that he really does not want to kill it and he becomes a friend with the dragon instead. He tries to explain this to the tribe but no one listens.

I like this kind of movies - movies with the message that everything is not like is seems to be. You need to think for yourself and maybe you end up in a fantastic adventure. And who would not like to live in a little town called Berk, fly and train a dragon, named Toothless.

The movie received broad critical acclaim. Mostly on the level A on a A+ to F scale. Here in Sweden I could see a common line - girls like it and boys does not. Well, anyway. I am a girl and even if I am older than the average, I like the movie.

If you watch it, enjoy. Blessings, Niina

At home and a new reality

2011-08-19T17:59:00.000+02:00

Some days ago we arrived at our home and I have been packing up since then. I can not understand how much things we really had at the cottage, that we need here too. I have some bags left with clothes and I thought that I will take those later tonight.

Next week it is time to start to plan for the studies. I have books on the way and I need to sign in to the schools portal so that I can join the others. Sometimes I feel a little bit stressed about this, it is like the feeling that you will have exams the next day. But I think that this feeling will go away as long as I get the book, can start to plan how and when to read and make notes.

And soon I will start to work too - in September. A new group of young girls and boys will start to attend the lessons in confirmation. Pearls of life, music and camp is on the list. I hope that it will go well.

Until next time. Have a great weekend and take care. Hugs, Niina

Preparation and Intercession

2011-08-19T17:48:00.001+02:00

At Fridlevstad's Chuch on 14th August 2011. Spiritual Vision.
I did the preparation and the intercession.

Preparation

Human is an amazing being. She has had every opportunity to use her body and mind to form a good life. She is creative, tenacious and intelligent. She explores and makes new insights every day. And even if "Enter through the narrow gate" sounds like a real challenge, so I think it is a challenge that humans are capable of - with Jesus' help. So search for the narrow gate and the narrow road that leads to life. I think the gate and the road is important and gives us an opportunity to adjust the view of the world, our neighbor and of God. When you receive spiritual vision, the world will look different and you will learn to see a chance for mercy instead of punishment, the fact is that Jesus sacrificed himself for our sake.

So target the heart's eye to Jesus and the Gospel of him.

Let us therefore come with an open heart before God and pray and confess …

******

Let us pray the Church's intercession.

God, you can give consistency and meaning to our lives,

we pray for ourselves and for all people.

Thank you, hear our prayer and meets us with love.

We pray for the Church throughout the world, giving it the strength to be truthful and sincere, forgiving and establishment. We ask for faith in Jesus who came to us and for help to live near you.

We are asking for help to see that God is the center of the world. We pray for all countries and all over our world.

We pray for those who thirst and hunger. We pray for those who seek power and need someone at his side and the courage to ask for help when we need support.

We pray for us that you have gathered here in the church and for Fridlevstads Assembly, for the diocese and the bishop. Protect and preserve us in all our ways.

God, open our eyes that we see you.

Through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Have a blessed weekend, hugs Niina

Follow me!

2011-08-05T23:25:00.001+02:00

I had a possibility to attend at a mass here in our summer-parish and the vicar thought that I could have the word that Sunday, 31st July. So I talked about Luke 9:51-62. I am happy about this and this what I said. I have translated the text from swedish to english, so sorry for the mistakes it may hold. Have a great weekend, Niina

When I was a kid, and celebrated the summers with my grandparents in Finland, I was the person who spent time with grandfather often. Everywhere he went, I was there with him. I wanted to know where he was and what he could. Sometimes I jumped in his footsteps along the gravel road down to the lake and sometimes I held his hand, walked side by side and looked up to him see what he saw.

I followed.

Today's theme is imitation. In the Gospel Jesus feels like a rough guide who asks, if you want to follow him, you to leave everything behind. He who wanted to bury his father and he wanted to say goodbye to them at home, were told that they would not bother with it, just follow Jesus. Without no return.

But did Jesus mean what he said - may not, as follower of Jesus, they bury their relatives or to say goodbye to their loved ones before following? And what does it mean to follow Jesus? I think at the time of Jesus, it was important to have the duty to bury a relative, it was important to study the law and to participate in temple worship and the Passover, but what was God's kingdom was more important. Thought a lot about this and I think it is about the trust, to put ones life in God's hands and rely on God's love and wisdom.

And imitation is in itself an act, a verb - We follow the master, but we do not always know where we are heading and it can be both dark and cold. In Jesus' time it was more to literally follow him when he went from village to village, town to town. They shared his condition and earned him the way they could. I think that those who followed Jesus, then, believed in what they did and did what they believed in.

Living in the Imitation of Christ is not easy. It is difficult, the hardships rich and dirty. The idea is that one should go near his master, so that the dust from his sandals, would be splashing up on you. But we know who we follow, Jesus - Light of the world. And whoever follows him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. It is not about a lamp, a bright light that we can turn off or turn on but a mild light, a flame that we should care about. And Jesus has no demands on us. Being a Christian does not mean a list of "must do or be", because he loves each of us as we are. We provide just what we have.

It feels good.

We are all called to be followers of Jesus. It's about finding one's life, to see the possibilities, daring to dream and to have visions. For life is beautiful. It's about believing in yourself, believing in what we do and do what we believe. To take life seriously, not to let anything have power over us and not to forget what is valuable. And to see fellow human beings! See his/her inner flame and see your inner flame and we should do what we can to keep the flame, the candle burning. I think Jesus wants with our lives.

So feel safe, take God at hand and take another human being in his hand, like I took the grandfather in his hand and follow Jesus - together. For you and me, whatever we do in our lives, are called by God to a life as a follower of Jesus.

It is to be a Christian.

Amen.

Horse back riding

2011-08-01T16:56:00.000+02:00

This summer the kids have been horse back riding a lot. They usually have lessons at home, but this summer they wanted to take some lessons here, where we have our cottage. I have been wondering who to contact and what to pay them. I mentioned to one lade from a local Red Cross office and she said that she knows two girls who have horses and that she could ask them.

And some days later we met and the girls have been riding about 1-2 times a week since the beginning of our vacation. They really like it and have learned a lot. We pay the girls 50 SEK for every lesson and horse. That is a very nice price and we have some weeks left, so that they can go horse back riding.

Last time they took a long riding lesson, out in the forest and the girls looked like happy sunshine, when they came back. The time before the oldest girl fell of the horse and hit her head and shoulder. She was a little bit sore during the evening and the next day, but nothing after that. All is fine now and she has fallen before, so she knows how to do and react.

I think that the horses are beautiful and I am happy that our girls have learned a lot.

Happy new week!

Blessings, Niina

Friday 22nd July 2011

2011-07-30T21:04:00.000+02:00

It was an ordinary week and we had decided to visit mother in law and celebrate her birthday. We took a trip, ate some good food and had some coffee. Even if it rained on this day it was a great trip and mother in law loved it.

Mr Breivik, an anti-Muslim extremist who blamed Labour for increased immigration, is believed to have single-handedly shot dead 69 people at a party summer camp on the island of Utoeya, hours after killing eight with a car bomb near government buildings in central Oslo.

Later in the week it was the Baltic Sea Festival in Karlshamn and the kids wanted to go. I went with them and we had some fun. We walked around, looked at all the things that was on sale. T-shirts, candy and balloons.

The man who admitted the bomb and gun attacks which rocked Norway has said under interrogation he had other targets, police say.

There was even jewerly, shoes, bags and other stuff. And lots of carousels. They tested some of the carousels named Remix and Spider Man. It was fun and they loved it.

Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, other political leaders and relatives of the victims attended a memorial service organized by the Labour Party youth movement to commemorate those killed and wounded.

Meanwhile I just stood on the ground with two big balloons, a horse and a Smurf, and watched them go round and round.

The attack on Utoya targeted members of the Labour Party's youth movement as they attended a summer camp.

It was sunny and warm that Friday and we where so happy when we walked home to hubby and mother in law. We had som much to tell them about the festival and what we saw and that we had bought candy too.

On Friday, Norwegian authorities completed the identification of the dead, releasing the names of all 77. Their ages ranged from 14 to 61, with an average age of 21.

The first thing we heard was how hubby told us that there had been bad things happening in Oslo, Norway. Something, a bomb and several bombs, had exploded in the city. Many hurt and some dead. And it got worse during the evening. A man, dressed up as a police killed Norways future, the young people that where at a camp and had fun. He just shot, shot, shot and shot.

There and then everything changed for Norway. On that Friday, 22nd July 2011. Nothing will be the same for a while. They will try to heal the wounds and start slowly to live as normal. At the same time when I had fun with my kids, the kids in Norway ran for their life. At the same time when I stood there with two balloons, kids in Norway tried to swim away from a maniac. At the same time when we walked, with smiles home, several people in the city were chocked and did not know what had happened.

You can not say that it will never happen here. Suddenly your ordinary day can be a chaos.

God holds Norway in His hands. Blessings, Niina

News from BBC and CNN.

Summer things.

2011-07-20T17:45:00.000+02:00

This week we will be at mother-in-law. It was her birthday on Monday and we celebrated it with a little trip to a place called Kristianopel. There we had some sight seeing and then we drove to a peace rock at Brömsebro. This monument has been there since 1915 and it is for the peace between Sweden and Denmark in 1645. It was a little lesson in history. You can read about the second treaty of Brömsebro here. after that we went to a restaurant for some food. It was good and really nice to eat out. It was a long time ago since I last time ate out like this.

Yesterday we took the attic and looked through the things mother-in-law has there. Later we will take some of these things and throw it away. There is a lot of things and we do not need it. Some things we may save and give away to them who may need it.

After that we took a fast trip to Malmö. The kids wanted to visit Build-a-Bear. It is a cute place and it was fun. They found some clothes to their Hello Kitty-teddies. And then they bought small-frys teddies and some clothes to these small ones. I could not help myself and I bought a rabbit and then a cute pink dress to it. Her name is Sugarplum.

On our way to Malmö we had a stop on the big road. There had been an accident with a truck. Everything was fine with the driver but the truck was so big, so no one could pass. The stop was for a hour and even when we came home, they were cleaning up.

We have a new vicar in our summer parish. It was a nice day at church when we said welcome to her. She got presents and afterwards there was lunch and cake! She preached about God´s Kingdom and then there was a christening. I think it is going to be just great with the new vicar.

Then I have been at the cottage doing some gardening. It has been sunny and warm. Today the weather is rather cold and cloudy. I do not know if it is all my gardening or the cleaning in the attic that made my waist on the left side hurt. I just hope that it goes away, sooner or later. More sooner if I may say.

Have a great day.

Blessings, Niina

As a fish!

2011-07-16T22:37:00.001+02:00

It has been some intense weeks for the kids - our two and then about 40 other. They have been taking badges and really working on their technical swimming. And so have I. Well not been working on my technical swimming but doing my best not to think about the wound and the plaster and all things surrounding it. The first 200 meters was hard. But after a while it got easier and easier. Finally it all ended in 5 km! That was a feeling for me to get the badge, because it felt like a bodily and mental thing.

Bodily, because I have been rather off with working out and moving. Mental, because I have been thinking that maybe I can not do things because I have a wound that really did not want to heal. But now I am on my way.

And I am really proud of myself and of course the girls. And hubby. He swam with me and took the 5km-badge too. It is the red one in the photo.

It has been a lot of swimming but it has been fun. Now the vacation can really start. Have a blessed day and take care.

*Niina*

So much swimming!

2011-07-13T22:36:00.000+02:00

The girls!

The latest weeks have been active for us as a family. We have been swimming a lot, mostly the girls. They have been taking badges - I do not know if you over there in the world have these things and what you call them for, but here in Sweden you can go to a swimming school and learn things and get badges for the things you have learned or done. The older you get, the bigger the challenge - or the higher you get in levels, the bigger the challenge. Our kids have been swimming about 1000m breaststroke, 500m backstroke, 500m breaststroke with clothes on, they have been diving 12 m (length) and 3 m (depth). For this they get one badge. It has been tough, but fun.

Even I as a parent have been taking some badges. I will work for the 5 km badge. It really felt the first 1 km, bit it got easier and easier for every km. I have 2 left. I can only swim 2 km a day and all must be done in 12 months, but only with 7 days in between. So there is rules too. I will take mine in a week, with one day rest.

Then the kids have been learning technical swimming, so that they can swim easier and faster without getting tired. Tomorrow is a new day and some swimming to do. Hope that you have a great day!

Blessings, Niina

Our vicar's last day.

2011-07-04T21:13:00.000+02:00

As you know, I am at our cottage now and it is summer vacation. When we are here we visit the church on sundays and even on other days if there is something going on, like music on on summer evening. Now on Sunday our vicar Andrés (he is from Chile) had his last day at work as a vicar here, he is retired. It was a wonderful mass at the church and so many people came to thank him for the 10 years he has been here and even to say good bye, hope to see you soon. And talk about mixed emotions. Happiness, smiles and laughter and then tears and the feeling of that we are going to miss him.

I am one of them who are going to miss him. A lot. He was the one who really supported me on my path and with my battle when it comes to faith, God, my vocation and my future. We gave each other a hug and he said to me that he hope that one day him and I can be colleagues and that he will pray for the best. I thanked him for the support and all the prayers. I am so happy that I met him and for all the support. And at the same time it feels strange that the vicar at home (sorry to say) never ever have supported or prayed for me. Well, it is not a necessity but she has known me, my vocation and all the doubts I have had, for a longer time. She has never asked what is going on, how I am feeling and thinking. Even when I wanted to talk to her, she never had the time...and this is not only me, others have experienced it too. And as a person said at the get-together (a little party) to and about vicar Andrés, that when he asks how you are doing, he really wants to know. And that is true, it is not just a phrase of politeness. Well, I am not pointing her out....just showing the differences....

We got sandwich-layer-cake and some very good raspberry-blueberry-cake as a dessert. Yummy! And coffee and lemon-water. It was nice and I talked a lot with a older lady and then the church-wardens. After a while the older lady smiled and said that she is and far-far-away relative. She knew well my mother-in-law. Is it not a small world, so say! It was fun!

Next Sunday we will meet the new vicar.

Have a happy day!

Blessings, Niina

At the cottage!

2011-06-26T22:26:00.000+02:00

It is evening over here at the cottage and the two last days I have been mostly in the garden fixing and doing my best to make it look nice. The grass was so high and thick, so that was something to work with. It took me yesterday and today to make the garden to look respectable. But there is more to do.

Earlier today we went to church and met the vicar there. He has only one week left and then the new vicar will arrive. It was nice at the church and it was great to meet the relatives and friends we have here. After the mass we had some coffee and cake out doors.

Later in the afternoon we took the kids to the lake so that they could swim a little. Me and hubby sat on the grass and just enjoyed the sun, the soft wind and talked. But now it is time to read and then say good night. Have a blessed Sunday and a great new week ahead.

Hugs, Niina

Seventh son, Orson Scott Card

2011-06-22T23:38:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I ended reading the history/fantasy saga written by Orson Scott Card. It is the first tale of Alvin Maker and it was my first time that I read Orson Scott Card. I think that it was a emotional story, born in strofe and with lots of hard lessons and growing pains yet to come.

Seventh Son is about Alvin Miller, another gifted child born under hardship to a pioneer family in an alternate America at the onset of the 19th century. Alvin is the seventh son of a seventh son, born with unusual powers in a world where natural magics are common.

Christianity meets native American culture meets unusual powers and it is not always these come along. The story is one of fantasy's most overt religious allegories and even if Card is seen as a religious conservative he can portray such characters as the passionate minister Reverend Thrower so pitiful, dogmatic and easily terrorized fanatic. Sometimes almost in a funny way. But look closer and you will see a deeply sympathetic character, as the others in this story. He sincerely believes in the things nearest to him. As the others do, too. And this makes sparkles in a different way. Everyone wants to protect the things they believe in. And all of the mythmaking is brought to vivid life when it is set againts the backdrop of early America, even if it is an alternate one. The struggles, hopes and living becomes alive and so real, at times heart-wrenchingly so.

It is a great story, showing that no person or nation is born without a little blood being shed. We may all wish that we sometimes could meet a Alvin Maker out there to make our road easier....or just gives us strength to walk through the happenings in life that are harder.

Have a blessed day, hugs Niina

Little cute Esther...

2011-06-19T15:48:00.000+02:00

...as the kids say, has new clothes to show.

Happy Sunday, hugs, Niina.