Sister love

This was me leaving for an entrance exam in Turku and then on to the States for the summer.

The party

Laura's graduation party was held here at home, after much preparation

These are all the cakes and cookies, and cupcakes, and sweet rolls...

Here is the main chef :) Alina

Elina, our guest of honor all the way from Germany

Elina, Laura, me, and Simi, Elina's friend from Germany

Laura's classmates, Esko and Kristiina. 

Laura actually started 1st grade with Esko, 12 years ago.

with Mom and Dad

The Ladies :)

Hyvä Laura :)

Laura graduated high school at the beginning of June. 

The ceremony was held at Toivonlinna, near Turku. Dad and I couldn't make it, but the rest of the family was there to witness it :)

marching in with her class

in her Spanish gown, found after MUCH searching :D

The whole class

with Kristiina

Charles

Charles left at the end of May. He had been here in Mikkeli for over two months for an exchange program, studying public health. His hometown is Homa Bay, near Lake Victoria, in Kenya. 

He was a frequent visitor at our house on Sabbath afternoons and we enjoyed getting to know him while he was here.

Catching up

So.. Summer is nearly over already!

I guess it's time to put up some pictures, eh?

This was at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore in Michigan, about 3 weeks ago.

Happy 25!

 23 June 1985 

Thank you for being great parents and good examples to us and for sticking with it through ups and downs. I admire you both and am very grateful for you!

I hope you have a wonderful anniversary and may there be many many more!

"Many waters cannot quench love,

Neither can floods drown it."

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Onnellinen

Minä lukitsen sydämeni

Minä viskaan pois sen avaimen

Koko sydän on ruusuja täynnä

ja laulua lintusten

En tahtoisi näyttää, en

miten syvästi iloitsen

miten pienistä, pienistä seikoista

voin olla iloinen

Vaan poskiini ruusut karkaa

ja suuhuni lintu piiloutuu

vain liverrystä arkaa 

joka sana on, minkä lausuu suu

Ja minussa onni sykkii

kuin ihmeellisesti sykkii maa

kun kaikki lähteet pulppuaa

kun kaikki lähteet soi

Minä salata en sitä voi

Minä salata en sitä saa

koko sydämeni aukeaa

koko sydämeni soi.

     - Aale Tynni