Mother's Day 2013
{Written Mother's Day 12.5.2013 in Heinola where Mikko is preparing his Ph.D. paper}
It's been awhile since I journeled during morning quiet time. Today is Mother's Day in Finland (Same as in the U.S., Father's Day differs however). I wake-up and am told to stay in the room. 2nd of four children is still sleeping.
"Don't Look!", the other children squeal with excitement. I use the toilet and cover my eyes while returning to the bedroom. I get a coffee headache.
"Mikko Dear, can I get a cup of orange juice or something?"
Second child wakes.
Mikko brings in juice and I am asked to continue to wait. Mikko summons second child to table. There is lots of whispering...LOUD WHISPERING.
A Liimatta trait. Rauha täti, Paula täti and mother-in-law flashback. I'm sleeping and wake to loud whispering. I smile. We are in Kuisma. I'm engaged to Mikko and am in Finland at summer for the first time. It's 1999.
We all sleep in the attic. Great memories. Flash back forward, Mikko is about to graduate with his first seminary degree. Mother-in-law and Rauha täti fly over. They sleep in our living room. Seminary housing, particularly the ones we lived in, I'm told, were made with the cheapest material at the time. We were in Mill Valley. Down the street a lawyer for Dryer's Ice cream and other "well-off" folks with gated and or secured housing.
Irony. It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, let alone into their own house.
I worked at a popular coffee chain. The lawyer would visit and get her white mocha...I think. (If you worked at a coffee shop for awhile you start to know everyone's drink. Popular sprinter, Michael Johnson, white mocha too...I think.) The lawyer gave icecream coupons once. That rocked.
Back to the Liimatta sisters. They try to order a capuccino in their best English. Mikko holds me back and suggests they do it themselves. Leader allowing people to lead. Love that guy. They return with a frozen coffee drink. They are confused. We all laugh and realize the cashier misunderstood.
It's morning. They whisper loud. It's humorous, Finns are considered quiet and reserved. You can't separate these ladies.
Back to Heinola 2013.
I'm summoned out of my room to a table set for pancakes and goose berries. I'm smilling inside and already forsee the berry massacre on the floor (Hence no breakfast in bed) that I will probably be cleaning up. Thank the Lord for carpetless floors! Carpet. Yuck.
I'm presented with gifts. First, a card from our four year old daughter. It's a picture of Mikko and I swimming. A heart drawn between us. She's elated. I'm smiling.
Next 6 year old presents an envelope with a lepard material fabric heart affixed to pink paper. I open it, it's blue bracelet he made in calss with plastic shells, roses and crystals. My eyes swell up in tears. I'm never giving this away, I think.
Then our oldest, the eight year old hands a package and a bunny card. He had hand sewn a travelling rabbit neck pillow. Tears are rolling. Mikko smiles, the kids are ready to eat.
We headed out that day to walk a local trail with our sanwhiches in tow. What a beautiful day! I love being a mother!
It's been awhile since I journeled during morning quiet time. Today is Mother's Day in Finland (Same as in the U.S., Father's Day differs however). I wake-up and am told to stay in the room. 2nd of four children is still sleeping.
"Don't Look!", the other children squeal with excitement. I use the toilet and cover my eyes while returning to the bedroom. I get a coffee headache.
"Mikko Dear, can I get a cup of orange juice or something?"
Second child wakes.
Mikko brings in juice and I am asked to continue to wait. Mikko summons second child to table. There is lots of whispering...LOUD WHISPERING.
A Liimatta trait. Rauha täti, Paula täti and mother-in-law flashback. I'm sleeping and wake to loud whispering. I smile. We are in Kuisma. I'm engaged to Mikko and am in Finland at summer for the first time. It's 1999.
We all sleep in the attic. Great memories. Flash back forward, Mikko is about to graduate with his first seminary degree. Mother-in-law and Rauha täti fly over. They sleep in our living room. Seminary housing, particularly the ones we lived in, I'm told, were made with the cheapest material at the time. We were in Mill Valley. Down the street a lawyer for Dryer's Ice cream and other "well-off" folks with gated and or secured housing.
Irony. It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, let alone into their own house.
I worked at a popular coffee chain. The lawyer would visit and get her white mocha...I think. (If you worked at a coffee shop for awhile you start to know everyone's drink. Popular sprinter, Michael Johnson, white mocha too...I think.) The lawyer gave icecream coupons once. That rocked.
Back to the Liimatta sisters. They try to order a capuccino in their best English. Mikko holds me back and suggests they do it themselves. Leader allowing people to lead. Love that guy. They return with a frozen coffee drink. They are confused. We all laugh and realize the cashier misunderstood.
It's morning. They whisper loud. It's humorous, Finns are considered quiet and reserved. You can't separate these ladies.
Back to Heinola 2013.
I'm summoned out of my room to a table set for pancakes and goose berries. I'm smilling inside and already forsee the berry massacre on the floor (Hence no breakfast in bed) that I will probably be cleaning up. Thank the Lord for carpetless floors! Carpet. Yuck.
I'm presented with gifts. First, a card from our four year old daughter. It's a picture of Mikko and I swimming. A heart drawn between us. She's elated. I'm smiling.
Next 6 year old presents an envelope with a lepard material fabric heart affixed to pink paper. I open it, it's blue bracelet he made in calss with plastic shells, roses and crystals. My eyes swell up in tears. I'm never giving this away, I think.
Then our oldest, the eight year old hands a package and a bunny card. He had hand sewn a travelling rabbit neck pillow. Tears are rolling. Mikko smiles, the kids are ready to eat.
We headed out that day to walk a local trail with our sanwhiches in tow. What a beautiful day! I love being a mother!
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