Everyone needs compassion

You're my Saviour // You can move the mountains

You are mighty to Save

#SundaySong

Kindred spirits

Beautiful photos by Jared Leto:

China from the air.

Seeing these here today made me think of....

By Mimosa:

Over Mallorca

Mallorcan Mountain range

Clearly kindred spirits, eh? ;) 

This trip took place back in 2008. I was a bit unwell, and look sooooo tired in the photos.. It was a research trip, very interesting. Feel somewhat pro now with regard to Mallorca. Ask me anything. Anyway, here's a few more photos to follow the first two:

My very first view of the island

More island from the air

Coming in at sunset

On the plane: Roxana, Alison and me

Straight to the beach!

 

Next morning: +20C or so.

Mallorcan agriculture...

...notice the terraces.


Due to Mallorca being a small island there's huge pressure on land use,
therefore they had to build these terraces to cultivate crops.

Some thoughts on blogging and a little miracle

written on Monday, September 19th

Sometimes life is funny. This evening I was spesifically thinking of these girls

and these times

... my life at 1063 Sauchiehall Street three years ago. Vi, the blonder one is planning to come and visit me hopefully next month. And I was spesifically thinking of Karina (the dark one on the right), and thought "I should get in touch with her, and wonder how she's doing". Then I log on to Facebook and about exactly at the same time as I had been thinking of her, she had written a comment to Vi's page about our times together..!!! Love how these happen. Like a little miracle, makes  life feel so much more special. Sometimes a thought can travel through a thousand miles? Or a prayer. There's so much in the world that is unseen...But how lovely to think, that we were actually thinking of each other at the exact same time. That's a warming thought.

I miss these girls, and am thankful for my time in Glasgow and meeting all the lovely people I did - important ones to me. Lifelong friendships made.

Can you guess what our doorbell said..

This evening I am feeling thankful for all my friends. To all of you (or all three of you reading :)) I am very thankful. You know who you are! ;) I am glad of the blogosphere friendships I've made as well. I truly plan to visit Mrs. Kool one day. And she took part in an English class of mine last year!! Elina is definitely one of the special people met here, such a joy to know. She is a wonderful person! Onneli, who blogs in Finnish I met through blogosphere while she was living in Glasgow, and I was here. She's then written different blogs, and even visited me while I was in Glasgow, and she was in turn back in Finland :) 

Lots of other  lovely people I've come across blogosphere in my six years here. To begin with, very few Finns were blogging back in 2005, I started as I wanted to keep in touch with the "outside" world (outside Finland) and also to have a space to keep up English for me, to not to forget the language. And as said, I was really only mostly reading English-speaking blogs. It wasn't until 2008 that I found Finnish/Finnish speaking blogs. So many they were all of a sudden! Lots of other lovely peeps who shared my situation then: a Finn abroad. Eloveena from Istanbul, who doesn't blog openly anymore, has become a friend: I've met her aunt, grandmother, mother and father and been to their house. I interviewed her 100-year old grandma for my dissertation. (She passed away last year..)

All this through blogs!! So many lovely people I would have never come across.

Not to also forget Kathy Escobar's blog... and Timo of course.




So feeling thankful this week. Not a bad start to the week.


These photos were taken 14 February 2008 at 

Saturday, October 1st

To continue, some images from around here, where I live :)

(taken with Nokia E52)

Friday evening

September 30th. Nearly +20C. in Helsinki:

Last weekend of the "Summer" in Mattolaituri,
we made it there too. yey

A little duck family swimming by

The view from there

Bye bye Finland?

Towards opean seas...

In the Distance

Southern Helsinki life

Click on the photos to see them larger.

Light into darkness

This story is amazing! How innovative and hope-giving this Friday. See how a Soda bottle becomes a light bulb: 





Hope we find new ways to let light in. Even in those situations where it feels hopeless, and impossible (like in this one - can't afford windows, there's no electricity..)  and you feel like you're in darkness with no hope. There's always a way.

I pray God blesses these people.

How I need you

Found this song today, it struck me!



Although it is this version here by Matt Maher that struck me (couldn't find it on youtube).

 And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Made for more

But you know you're made for more,
so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes,
and you can walk on the water, too

Step out, even when it's storming
Step out, even when you're broken
Step out, even when your heart is telling you
Telling you to give up

Your faith is all it takes,
and you can walk on the water, too





Britt Nicole, Walking on water.

Also I want to post this, Phil Wickham with "Safe"




You will be safe in his arms
So hear Him now He's calling you home

Whoah, this week has gone by in a flash but also been very full, just workwise. Full and/but good. I almost ended up in the news (for two seconds) but only my colleagues then (for those two split seconds).. I stood behind the cameras ;) To be honest - they weren't filming us, just the Prime Minister..


Weekend is here! Have a happy one! I'm hopefully going to the woods tomorrow, and picking some lingonberries... :)

Last Sunday

Lahti Harbour

Little boat going away...

Little Vesijärvi (= Water lake) park - people go jogging etc..

Lahti for you

This little guy seemed a bit lost (but then actually flew away)

A peek to my balcony

flowers a bit closer...

The View From Here

I need a pair of these

Please excuse the quality of these - they were taken with my mobile. Yes, the weather's been a lot like that in Finland :/

I've been off work today as I'm down with a cold/flu (something like that). I was at work on Thursday though already had a very sore throath and one of my colleagues asked me "so why are you here??" Ive had head ache for three days this week.. Today being the worst. Felt like crying. The medicine has kicked in now, so I don't feel as horrible as I have all day.  I'm even online! (though I probably shouldn't, but I'm a little bored..) Only a few hours ago I felt like crying for mommy. You know the feeling. I just hope I am well by Monday as I was just off work for four days only LAST week due to another illness - jeez!! But there seems to be this flu/cold wave already going on in Finland - so many people I know are ill, facebook also telling of others.. already now, and it's only been end of August/beginning of September? We're all falling ill already?? And I am sad to add myself to those numbers. I saw last weekend  too many people who were, had been, or were going to be sick. Guess it was due to come :/

Anyway, what a long babble about that.

I went rollerblading after a loooooooong while the other week.

Some scenery along the way...

random field

Yes I live in a city - you may not believe from these pictures but that's Finland for you :) These are the outskirsts though I must admit. Though it's only some kilometres from my house, right near the centre..
Ok, it's not that big of a city, just 100 000 people.. But this is what I love about here - the closeness of nature.

Here's what the sky looked like from my balcony that eve:

Now my head is telling me I was stupid to ever open the computer and definitely need to go to sleep. Ouch. (Yesterday I fell asleep straight from work, before 7p). Hoping for a better day tomorrow... Blessings to you!