Finland

I have so many things to say about my wonderful trip to Finland. But I'll start by writing about my time with my brother Henry and his wife Ruut. I've blogged about them many times before but once again we had such a fantastic time together. Pentti and Emmi dropped me off and were able to spend one evening with them too. But they left Finland before I did, so I got to spend extra time with H&R. For part of our time, Henry was at a golf tournament and it was just Ruut and I. We had some good conversations, we went for morning saunas, we found a cute little cafe for afternoon coffee, and we read. Ruut and I are similar in a lot of ways and can just hang out and be ourselves.

The rest of the time, Henry was around too. Being with them is always chill and fun. They love good food so it's always a great culinary experience to be with them, whether eating out or eating their cooking. Henry makes extraordinary pizza in his pizza oven and we had three pizza nights. Ruut also made some delicious salads and chicken. They like music and shopping and books and good conversation too, so I get to do all my favourite things with them.

On my birthday we drove to Helsinki and spent the day there. I've never really spent time in Helsinki so it was fun to see some of the sights and eat good food and shop. In the evening we checked out a tiny pizzeria with amazing pizza.

All in all, I spent six nights at their little cottage. I feel blessed that I was able to spend so much time with them and look forward to our next meeting....possibly in Japan....

Alaska part two

We had a great time in Alaska. The weather was great and we got an unusual amount of sunshine according to locals. We took two excursions through Holland America since neither of us had any experience with cruising. The train ride through White Pass in Skagway was breathtaking and worth every penny. The other excursion to Endicott Arm and Dawes glacier was okay but I probably would not do it again. The trip was six hours and I've seen more whales standing on the beach in Powell River than I did on that small boat. And the view from our verandah of Glacier Bay a couple days later was better than what we saw at Dawes glacier. Having said all that, we were sitting with some great people and had some good conversations and the weather was perfect. Overall it just wasn't worth the money.

On the boat, my favourite by far was the trio Vivace: a piano, cello and violin. The musicians were very talented and played many shows a day of different types of music: jazz, classical, show tunes and opera. Sometimes they performed as a duet and a few times just on their own. The concert of just the pianist in the lounge on the grand piano was spectacular. He played Chopin and Beethoven and other classics and I was in classical music heaven. I was not at all expecting professional classically trained musicians to be putting on concerts on the cruise, but it was a delightful surprise. I've blogged before about how much I love music and how it fills me up. It reminds me of what I read about moments of fullness; somewhere, in some activity, or condition, lies a fullness, a richness; that is, in that place, life is fuller, richer, deeper, more worth while, more admirable, more what it should be. I tried to attend all of their concerts whenever possible. 

The food in the market where you could go around to all the different food stations was my favourite place to eat. I loved the tacos and the Indian food and the croissants and the salads. The dining room and the fine dining did not impress me much. But there was definitely no shortage of food and I feel like I should fast for a week after coming home, lol.

We had Ligonier events to attend and also a lot of free time to go to the spa and read and chill. One day it was so hot and sunny that I sunbathed by the pool. In Alaska! In the evenings, we spent a lot of time in the Crow's Nest playing card games, listening to live music and chatting. The view from the windows all around up on the 12th floor was breathtaking! 

Considering the amount of people on the ship, there were lots of quiet corners to read in peace, including a lovely library! The sauna that had big windows looking out onto the water was great and hardly anyone seemed to know about it. Yes, there were a lot of older people on the cruise and that's just fine with me.

All in all, I would recommend cruising to Alaska at least once in a lifetime. But, personally, I would like to go again. Maybe not next year, but soon.

 

Alaska part one

I went on a cruise to Alaska last week with a friend. I will have lots of things to say about the actual cruise, which was amazing, but today I want to write about the Ligonier portion of the cruise.

My friend and I had talked about some day combining a cruise with something spiritually meaningful, so when Ligonier announced a cruise leaving from Vancouver to Alaska, we were excited and signed up. I've blogged about Ligonier before so I don't think I need to get into explaining all that again. But, I will say that it is a fantastic Christian organization that is dedicated to deepening and strengthening the faith and Biblical knowledge of Christians. If you're looking for resources including books or podcasts or teaching series or Sunday school materials, they have an abundance of solid resources. I have personally benefitted a great deal from them and have come to understand who God is so much more deeply, especially in the area of His sovereignty.

Anyway, to my delight, not only was the cruise offered by Ligonier, but Bob (W. Robert Godfrey), one of my favourites, was one of the teachers on the book of Philippians. The teaching was solid, like always. But, we also got to sit and have coffee and then later breakfast with Bob. He is hilarious and insightful and just a delight to be around. He is in his 80s and inspires me to keep going, to persevere.

Not only did I get to hang out with Bob, I also got to meet Mrs Vesta Sproul. She is the widow of Ligonier's founder, RC Sproul. Since RC has gone to glory, I was able to thank Mrs Sproul for the transformative impact that Ligonier has had on my life. What a blessing!

In addition to these two, I met so many lovely people who were also on the cruise with Ligonier. The cruiseship had over 3000 people on it, but those who were part of Ligonier were only about 240. So, when we went on excursions, we had enough people to have (almost) everyone on board the train and the smaller boat exclusively from our group. It made things so much more personable. We had reserved tables for our group every night for dinner. Meeting different people over dinner was such a great way to connect and share a meal. Singing together and listening to God's word expounded was meaningful and moving. Walking around the boat seeing someone with a Ligonier name tag felt homey. If I ever do another cruise, I would love for it to be with Ligonier!

Emmi

Emmi got baptised on Easter Sunday, praise God!! Below is her testimony:

I grew up in a Christian home, where we prayed at every meal, and went to church every Sunday. There was never really a time that I didn’t know about Jesus, I had just always known about him. As well, I’ve been going to a Christian school all my life where we had Bible classes, along with a chapel every week where we learned more about God, and heard our teachers testimonies. Because of how I’d grown up surrounded by Christians, and hearing about their faith made it hard for me to make my belief and faith my own, and not just a replica of someone else’s. I found it difficult to have a personal relationship and connection with God, and not just see Him as something people I knew talked about. When my friends started showing their own faith, and their relationship with God, I felt a little offput, that they could put aside their doubt, and that their belief came so easily to them. So, at my summer camp one year, when my friends stood up to give their life to Jesus, I did too. It made me truly realize that I had to make my faith my own, my relationship with God my own, and not just follow my friends and family. The pastor at the summer camp then prayed over us and blessed us, which is the moment that I think of when I think back to when I first started truly believing in God. After that, Jesus slowly started to change me, and has made me more aware of my sin, and helped me to be more repentant. By being able to see my sin more clearly, I’ve been able to see my own need for Jesus, and how He saved me on the cross so that I could be forgiven. As well, it’s allowed me to turn away from my mistakes, and instead focus on being more like God as He helps me grow in my faith. I’ve slowly been forming a relationship with Him, and spending more of my time with Him. Now, I’ve come to make my faith my own, and come to realize that God cares for me, and is always there, as well as ready to help. It says in Mark 16:16, ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’ I believe, so I’ve realized I want to be baptized, so I could publicly show my faith to others, and be able to take the next step in my faith. I’m especially glad to be baptized at Easter, because that is when Jesus died on the cross to take on my punishment of death for my sin.

Teaching

For the month of February I wrote messages onto hearts for why I love being their teacher. I hid one heart every morning and the students had to come in and find it. They loved looking for the hearts and reading reasons why I love being their teacher. I swear that one of the secrets to classroom management is enjoying the students and having them know it. I really do love teaching them, watching them learn, and laughing at their stories. Don't misunderstand...there are still fights to resolve, special needs, tattling, meanness, forgotten supplies and snacks....the list goes on. But they're also 7, and love school and are excited over books, science experiments, scavenger hunts and nature walks, so teaching them is still fun overall.

family weekend

We just spent an extra long weekend at my brother's house. The weather was beautiful and not too cold, even though it snowed on one day. I love mornings at my brother's house. I wake up in the guest cottage which is a lovely little rustic cabin. I check the time and decide whether I feel like getting up. There are no schedules at my brother's house and I am pretty sure Pentti is the only morning person. When I'm ready, I head over to the main house for coffee in my pajamas. It's usually pretty quiet at that hour since all the kids are late sleepers. I greet Hazel the dog. I enjoy my coffee and slowly wake up. After coffee, I go turn on the sauna. While its heating up, I change and go for a walk with Pentti (and sometimes some others join). We walk along the river joined by a dog or two. The air is fresh and invigorating. Knowing a relaxing sauna awaits spurs me on. After the walk, I enjoy the quiet of the sauna. As the light filters through the cedar-scented air, I breathe deep and admire the wonder of nature outside. The river rushing past, the big trees. It's such a peaceful and soothing start to the day and sets the tone for the rest of the day. 

This time around, the rest of my days were made up of conversation, card games, the Olympics, food and reading. It was truly a family weekend.

Communion

 

Our church does communion every Sunday and it is beautiful. The lining up. The singing. The reminder of Jesus' death on our behalf. The words uttered by the servers. The dipping of the bread and the very physical reminder that I have been saved and made righteous. 

P and I serve on the communion team. On the Sundays that we are scheduled, we stand at the front and serve the bread and the wine. Lately, as I look into the eyes of each person and say the words "the blood of Christ shed for you", it makes me cry. Jesus died for him. And for her. I must be getting soft in my old age. But, I also think that of all the meals that you can share with someone, communion is the most meaningful. It has eternal value. And it is an act of corporate worship. Jesus died for us. We are remembering together.

Inspirational

Do you know these two sisters? They go to my church and we had lunch after women's Bible study on Tuesday. Being with them makes me happy. We laugh a lot when I am with them. Seeing them on Sunday mornings brings me joy. They are in their 70s and 80s and still so vibrant and energetic and servant-minded and funny! They inspire me.

2025-the Ordinary

Lots of big things happened in 2025 and I will write about those later, although I think all of them already have their own blog entries. Top spot has to go to the birth of my granddaughter, obviously. The lowest, most heartbreaking has to go to the two unexpected deaths. But, I am not here to write about those. Today I want to write about the ordinary, the expected, the common.

I was looking back on pictures from the year and reflecting on the everyday moments. The things that make up the bulk of my life: family, work, and church. And I am grateful for all the joy that came from the regular rhythms of my life. 

I have a family who loves me. They see me at my best and at my worst and are there for me in both. Sitting down for dinner, going to church, praying, chauffeuring. These are all uneventful but bring me joy in the mundane. In the broader family, lunch with my sister. Chats with my brothers. Texting in our sibling chat. Memes. So many memes. Reminiscing. I am lucky that I am close with my siblings and that those bonds grow deeper as we age. One of the pictures from my collage of ordinary below is from my brother's house. Just a regular day and yet so extraordinary. 

Church is a biweekly rhythm for me since I go on Sundays and on Tuesday mornings and throw in community group on Wednesdays as a third. All of these are part of my typical week. There is no special programming. The structure is always the same. But the familiarity is comforting. I love the people. The church retreat, which I blogged about in October, was wonderful. But, that was an event. It was unusual. As I walk up the steps of my church on a regular day, I feel incredibly blessed that this is my church and I am grateful for the ordinary, common rhythms of it all. 

Going to work is a standard part of my life three days a week. It isn't glamorous. There isn't generally a lot of thanks or fanfare. But, I am lucky enough to love my job, to love teaching my students. And, I have friends at work who spend time with me and make work fun. We chat in the hallways. Have coffee. Laugh and cry. Raid the emergency chocolate stash. Vent our frustrations. Curse the broken photocopier. On a regular Thursday at work. This too I am grateful for. 

For all of it, I am grateful. Because as I posted on social media, "if you must look back, look back in celebration for the ordinary in your life and know, with all your knowing, that it isn't ordinary at all. It is magic. All of it. See it. Really see it." So, perhaps the ordinary moments are actually extraordinary after all...because of the people. My family, my church family, my coworkers, and my friends, they are the ones that make my ordinary magical.

Gratitude

I've been reflecting on gratitude as the year draws to a close. I hate change, and I think a lot of people are averse to it. But, change is a part of life. Some things change as a natural progression and other things change in a more dramatic, sometimes painful way. But, change is inevitable. There are things that I wish had not changed, but they have. So, I have been reframing my thinking and trying to be thankful for what we had, instead of bitter for what has changed. And also, reflecting on what new, different good has come from change.

One of the biggest changes in the last few years has been the proximity of the extended family. My dad passed away and that started a sort of snowball of changes. My brothers and their families moved out of the lower mainland. Matias moved to Alberta. My mom moved to Finland. My aunt and uncle moved to Hope. Instead of lamenting all these changes, I've been thinking about how lucky and blessed I was for the first more than 40 years of my life. I was surrounded by family. We had celebrations and parties with the extended family often. The close knit family that we had for all those years was extraordinary. Some people never experience that. So, I am grateful.

There are also things that are good that have come from change. Even though our extended family is not physically as close anymore, it makes getting together more special. At Christmas 20 of us squeezed into our cabin in Hope. We brought food, we cooked, we laughed, we ate. The younger cousins wreaked havoc and ran around until they were exhausted. The older cousins chilled together. The sauna was on for hours. The teen boys jumped into the ice cold creek. Some watched the hockey game. There was music. It was loud and chaotic and really great. Three of the four families stayed the night in Hope, filling up every available bed and spare mattress. It was so nice and it only came together because we don't all live near to each other anymore. And for this too, I can be grateful. It's different, but it is still good.

Concerts

I love, love music. Over the past month, I went to seven concerts. That might seem like a lot, but I disagree. The way that music lets me be in the moment and forget everything else for a few hours is otherworldly. Maybe that's just me, but it truly provides the best escape. But it's not even about escaping. It's how the music gets down into my soul. How a venue adds to the experience. How who I am with makes it shared and beautiful. 

Take for example my former choir's concert downtown in the beautiful cathedral. The venue is spectacular. But, also, going downtown with my friend Lesley on a Friday night after work. Having dinner and then the concert. Seeing my friends singing their hearts out and so full of joy. Knowing some of the drama from what has gone on behind the scenes and being so overjoyed that they pulled it off. 

Going to a community choir Christmas concert lead by my former director Gail. Hearing her play the piano and sing. Seeing some of my friends in the choir. Hearing Ingrid play the saxophone and seeing her smile as she catches me singing along to some of the former choir songs. For both these concerts, the connections with the people were what made them extra special.

My least favourite concert was John Legend. It was a great concert by all standards and I had a really good time with my friend Ursula. But the music itself didn't move me. I hate the arena and its ugly seats and sticky floors. I don't know John Legend's music enough to sing along. I just didn't care and honestly would not have gone if we hadn't been gifted the tickets. 

I also attended two concerts that were completely new to me. Both were celtic and randomly came up in my social media feeds as ads. Sometimes those ads can actually be helpful. I was very happy to try something new and the celtic tenors as well as the Barra Macneills were fabulously entertaining and diverse. The Barra Macneills were at the Kay Meek theatre in North Vancouver and the tenors were at the Bell Centre in Surrey. Both theatres are smallish, have no bad seats, ample free parking and a cozy feel. 

But, Christmas is over and I have put away the Christmas music. Luckily, last night I went to see a movie full of Neil Diamond music and it was fantastic. So, I'll just switch to listening to Neil Diamond instead...until the next concert, which is already lined up for January.

Merry Christmas

The twinkling lights on the trees outside. The smell of apple cider. Hugging friends. Wishes for a merry Christmas. The buzz of conversation. The church filling up. The sounds of the chords for the first carol. Traditional carols, all of them. Beautiful and deep. The Scripture readings. The Christmas message and the magii. The handing out of candles. The lights dimming. Singing O Holy Night with only candles lighting the darkness. 

Every year, I love the candlelight service at my church so much. Maybe it's partly because its a tradition I did not grow up with. Maybe it's because it feels like a reset of calm and peace and joy in the midst of the busy and the chaotic. Whatever the reason, it is beautiful. Merry Christmas friends! May you find the true peace of God this season; it's the only one that lasts.

teaching

 I received the loveliest parent email this week after school had closed for the holidays. It made my week and was the best Christmas gift. This is why I teach.

Grace

There is a quote that has been attributed to Churchill which my father often quoted. Apparently there is no record of Churchill actually saying it, but it goes "If you're not a liberal at 25 you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by 35, you have no brain". No surprise that my dad was a staunch conservative and therefore liked the quote. But it's not the quote that I am actually wanting to blog about. I've been thinking about grace a lot lately. So, I've made up my own quote. If you're not full of grace by your 40s (as a Christian), then you have no heart.

I recently attended two Christian funerals. Both were lovely and celebrated the lives of those who had passed in very meaningful ways. But the two sermons by two different pastors were light years apart. One was gracious and inviting. He shared the gospel message and asked questions about eternity. Funerals are natural occasions to bring up life after death and how one gets to heaven. Any Christian pastor worth his salt is going to make you think about what will happen to you when you die. But the sermon came across as caring, deep concern that you would be in heaven one day with the one who had passed.

The other sermon was all fire and brimstone. Although I think (hope) that it also came from a place of care and concern, it came across as judgemental, harsh and ultimately uncaring. Sitting there, knowing my non-Christian neighbours were in attendance, I was embarrassed. Not embarrassed for the gospel, but that someone would choose that moment to call any unbeliever wicked and slothful. Wow. 

And that brings me back to grace. As I continue in my Christian walk, I make mistakes. I learn more about how hard life can be sometimes. Like the apostle Paul, I do what I am not supposed to do and I don't do what I am supposed to do. Life rarely goes how I thought it would. As I grow in sanctification, I actually realize that I fall short more and not less of the mark. My understanding of God's holiness and sovereignty expands and I see my own sinfulness more clearly. And so I understand more and more a need for grace. I appreciate what a gift salvation truly is. And I extend grace to others as I empathize that they too are just doing the best they can and need God too. 

WBS

This is Jodi. She leads the women's Bible study at my church which I have written about before. She actually took over midseason a couple years ago when the woman who was leading became ill and unable to lead. I am amazed at how Jodi has been able to not only take over, but to grow WBS to over 140 women. Often when there is uncertainty for a longer period and then change, things start to dwindle. People lose interest. They don't want a new leader. They drop out during indeterminate waiting and then don't return. But to Jodi's credit, WBS is stronger than ever. And she is a really great leader, mentor and teacher. I appreciate her approachability and her sense of humour. This week she texted me that she "sensed our nerdiness was compatible". Yes!

At the recent retreat, a few of us were able to celebrate her recent (Masters) graduation. She had to miss her convocation in order to attend the retreat, so some of the staff had organized a little party to surprise her. It was sweet and so well deserved. In light of our study of Numbers, I suggested that there should have been trumpets, but alas, we had to settle for cake and a few speeches.

My friend Tanya died unexpectedly last week. She was one of the most hospitable, servant-minded people I have ever met. She was very involved in so many things, always hosting and serving and being thoughtful. I've known her through our Finnish church and community since I was 4. She taught Sunday school, she lead youth group, she drove youth around. She was a missionary in India for awhile. The list of things she has done for people, the number of people she's clothed, cooked for, supported, housed, and/or counselled is truly immeasurable. Her staff at the care home where she was director of care raved about how she went out of her way to show appreciation for her staff. For me personally, she hosted an amazing party for me on her patio when I turned 50. She MC'd our wedding. She ran the kitchen at my dad's funeral. She hosted a buffet breakfast for all the families at our neighborhood Easter egg hunts for years. She hosted countless parties and potlucks that I was lucky enough to attend. We went camping, on girls trips, to conferences. If there was a Mother Theresa award, I would nominate her and everyone who knew her would agree. In fact, last year, she received the Order of the Lion of Finland for all her service.

So, it's hard to imagine the world, but specifically the Finnish community, without her. And it's impossible not to question why. She was still very much needed and it'll take an army of people to carry on all that she was doing. I miss her.

church retreat

We had our first whole church retreat this past weekend. Previously there have been women's retreats, men's retreats, and youth retreats, but never whole families. This time, the retreat was for everyone. There were about 300 of us who came together at Rockridge in Princeton. It was such a good time of connecting and relaxing and walking and playing cards and fellowship. Sunday morning conversations at church barely scratch the surface. Community groups fortunately go much deeper and do life together in a more meaningful way. But it is still another level of community to spend a weekend together. To eat together. To go for walks and play games. To have extended time to just hang out. Needless to say, it was great! The icing on the cake was Sunday morning worship. Pastor Jon preached such a moving message about unity and meaningful dependence on one another. It made me want to serve more, to give back more and to love on the people in my church more. What a wonderful weekend with some of the best people that I know.

Food for thought from Bonhoeffer, which Jon quoted in his sermon: "He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter". 

Thanksgiving 2025

 

We came to my brother's house for Thanksgiving weekend. We had our big dinner tonight, which was delicious. Other than that, we've been relaxing. I've walked and gone sauna every day. I finished my Bible study homework. It's been very low key and restful. I am grateful.

CG

Community group for church resumed last week and we picked up right where we left off before the summer break. We meet to discuss the past Sunday's sermon, but we often end up having tangent theological discussions in addition to talking about the Scripture passage. There is always laughter, prayer and snacks. Below is a free verse "poem" I wrote a couple years ago after a community group gathering. 

Eleven Friends and a Dog

How are you/How was your trip/Have something to drink/Did you taste the appetizer/ Hugs/We're going to Australia/Those grandkids are easy/What's in this salad/Everything is so healthy/I thought that was your leg, but it's just the dog/Laughter/What do you think about electric vehicles/Anyone want more ice cream/I'm sad about what my son is up to/The spa was great/How's it going with her living at home again/This corn is delicious/God's working on his testimony/We're the old people now/She got a tattoo/Thank you/This was lovely/We'll resume in September.

Outdoor learning

 

I promise this blog is not becoming a teaching and outdoor learning blog. But, I do write about whatever is top of mind that day and today was another good day at school. It was a sunny autumn day, so we went outside to find "sit spots". Each student had to find a quiet spot to sit down and observe the nature around them and write/draw in their science journals. They were encouraged to sit alone, and to really listen and see what was around them. We talked about how being quiet and still would hopefully bring any scurrying creatures back. I was amazed at how focused the kids were and what all they were able to observe. 

PS. In case you're wondering, we did also do math, reading, writing, and gym today. And it was also picture day in there somewhere.