slap in the face or cinnamon rolls.

After I made my decision yesterday I thought it was about time to start baking Finnish. I tried to bake 'korvapuusti' - the original translation for that is 'slap in the face', don't ask me why - or for other nations 'cinnamon rolls' 3 weeks ago but the dough recipe I had wasn't so good and they didn't turn out well.

But - today I used my moms recipe and they turned out sooo well! I am really proud of myself and they taste delicious. Anybody want to marry me now? I still smell like cinnamon if you like that! ;)

While I was making the rolls I watched 'Sunset 60 - a new show that I really love'. Good combination.

delicious!

Decisions

This week has been amazing and very revelational. I feel immensly blessed. Among other things I finally found out where I want to live!

I was talking about Helsinki or where I want to live next year with Meike and she told me that she thinks I already know where I want to live in my heart. I thought so too, but I just wasn't able to make a final decision for myself. I felt like the process of my decision making was not yet done. Like I was still getting used to that idea. In a way I felt that I am needed in Helsinki. I have never felt the need to be close to my family more than in the process of decision making. When I think of Helsinki I could cry, because I have such a love in my heart and I don't really know where it comes from. But it is there.

But when I read the article in Meridian Magazine about the gala in Espoo near Helsinki honoring the Temple Decication and the Prophet's visit I knew 100% where I want to be.

Helsinki.

Without a doubt. All of a sudden I knew it. The Finns are a special people, I want to be part of that special spirit that is surrounding them. I am already half a part of that. But I want more. I want to live it and be a part of bringing more of that spirit to more people. Spreading the love. I want to be really cold in the winter, have real snow, eat the delicious food whenever I want to, I want to learn Finnish more, I want to spend more time with my family, I want to be Finnish, not just half.

But, I know what I want now. Now I will find out what the Lord wants. See you later.

London, Shmondon

Right after I got back from Helsinki I flew to London the next weekend. Don't know what hit me to book this marathon but all in all it was a good decision.

I was very lazy in taking pictures. At some point my friend Alex asked me if I am not taking pictures for my blog and I told him: Nah, this time I can't be bothered.

I stayed with my friend Cherina who had laryngitis - poor thing - and Friday night we spent at home watching a movie. If you know me - one of my favourite things to do.

Saturday I met up with my friend Alex who works at Hampton Court and gets free tickets to historic stites in London.

So we wanted to see some royal stuff and went to see Kensington Palace which was kind of impressive and huge. Princess Di also lived there and apparently her spirit still does.

Cherina lives in a cosy and beautiful place called 'Kew Gardens'. One thing I really love about London among so many other things are the doors! I am a sucker for doors - weird, I know but see for yourself - so beautiful!

Please draw your attention to this doornob here. An elephant!

Also, I realized it was good that I booked my London trip right after my Helsinki trip because I was able to view London with a 'neutral eye'. Not to mistake this with the London Eye, though. When I was driving to Cherina's place all by myself in the tube Saturday night and I had these thoughts:

• I could feel lonely in this big place, although I have already some friends here
• I could not feel lonely enough in this busy place
• I could get tired easily here
• I want to have my own appartment again - impossible in London.
  

So, I drove back home with Thornton chocolate in my mouth thinking 'I love London, but I don't think that it would be healthy for me to live here..'.

TBC.

Suomi, Finland - Thursday / Friday

So, finally I have time to update this. I had one week of vacation but it sure doesn't seem like it after 2 weeks of work life..

After a day at the temple I went to Helsinki with my mother to do some shopping and see some of the city again.

But first I wanted to take pictures of the beautiful houses around the place where i stayed... until my battery died.

After I got more batteries I took some photos of Helsinki.

train station.

On my way back from downtown I took some shots from the bus.. Green, green, green.. And beautiful.

this is the place where Finnish politics are being discussed.

Helsinki's opera house.

At night I met up with my lovely cousin Sara at the bar / cafe where she works as they had a party there. It had been the first time in a while that I had gone out to a bar. it was fun but also reminded me of 'back in the old days' which had a little strange aftertaste.

This is Sara. Blurry, but I love the picture.

Us.

Afterwards we went to see her boyfriend play in a small club with his band. Good times. My other cousin Jose came as well but I don't have a picture of him..

Then.. Friday before we drove to the temple again I was able to take some pictures of the neighbourhood of the friends where I stayed.

The experiences I made at the open house of the temple were remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime and just testimony building. I will never forget it and will be forever blessed with the memories. My aunt Pini wrote us an email which I would like to quote as it truly captures all the feelings I have had and still have when I think of my time there:

All you loved ones,

As you have understood from dad's email, we were witnessing miracles during the temple open house. The shared experience of spirit and love with so many Finns--and some numbers of peoples from surrounding countries--brought us indescribable joy. In a geographic region where people are not very interested in religion, as I had though, people flowed unto the temple. The last figure of visits reached 55 800--which means that about 1% of Finns saw the temple.

One day as I was standing by a window on the second floor of the temple guest house with our dear Patriarch (and relative) Savolainen, watching at the endless stream of people on the temple hill, Brother Savolainen quoted Isaiah (1: 2-3):

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of God of Jacob..."

People visiting the temple were inspired to come and visit and they were prepared to feel the spirit. A had a humorous experience one day when I had parked my car at the parking area reserved for the open house and went to wait for a temple minibuss. The lines were so long (over 50 meters) that we were recommend to walk the distance of about 2 kilometers. I
pitched into walking with the large crowd. In the end we took an unpaved path. I had to laugh to myself: here the Finns were trodding in mud and not complaining to get to the TEMPLE. What a contrast to the experience of the saints who were driven from their homes and who had to walk on muddy roads from time to time to get to safety.

As Sara said, some were weeping after the video presentation already at the beginning of the tour. At the end of the tours, I could tell that people were deeply touched. They were thankful that there is such a place in Finland and that they could visit it. But it was not so much what they said; I could tell the spirit in their faces, handshakes, their appearances. No wonder there were many who came again and again, always with new family members or friends.

We who witnessed these experiences were uplifted; there were times that, I believe, I had a small glimpse of what heaven and the celestial realm will be like. I long for being in the temple.

Love,

Mamma/Pini

I am also thankful, that I got to share this experience with my mother. I remember the last tour we had which was a remarkable group. We weren't able to go to the temple after we had watched an introductory video first with the group, as there were too many groups standing out side on the path and it was cold. We waited inside the guest house for about 30 minutes and the group had the chance to ask us questions which the guides answered patiently. While answering the group bonded and this bond lasted for the whole way up to the tent after the temple.

The guests asked the 'right' questions, showed interest and one lady said that she wanted to cry of joy after the video because she wanted all of the things Elder Holland said for her family. 'He cannot imagine an eternity without his wife and his children'..

The last stop of the tour through the temple was the Celestial Room where the guests were asked to remain quiet for some minutes to ponder and just enjoy the room. In that room I felt the Spirit so strong, the guests were so quiet as no other group before. My mom and I were amazed but this experience.

In 2 weeks I will be back and I can't wait.

Suomi, Finland - Tuesday / Wednesday

Monday night also my uncle and his wife, my aunt, came over for a late dinner. My aunt is really amazing. 2 years ago she got her phd in social science at BYU and also taught there. My uncle Jussi is my mothers brother in case you wondered.

Tuesday morning we drove to Hyvinkää to visit my grandmother. We also spent many summers in this town and it was great to visit again. Brings back so many memories. This is where she used to live. The appartment below.

I remember one time when my brother and I were sitting in my dad's car and listening to 'Europe' 'The final countdown' on full volume.

typical neighbourhood.

then we finally arrived at my grandma's. She is the best. My mom made her a perm and grandma - in Finish 'mummi' - asked me how life was. I told her that I am planning on moving to London and she replied: 'Oh I hear bells ringing'. I answered that there was no guy involved to which she replied: 'Oh are you a lesbian?' :)

my dad: boys and their toys.
us 3.
Afterwards we drove to the Temple. It was still raining.

Today I was able to work at the Temple's open house as a tour guide and inside the Temple coordinating things. I didn't take any pictures - no time. But I will go back.

I have always wanted to be a temple worker and today I got a glimpse of how it would be. It felt really special.

The floor inside was granite from Jerusalem, the outside was granite from Italy, the wood was from a cherry tree. In every room you could see the same leaf print and the love for detailed work. My 'guestmom' talked to the craftsmen who had worked on the temple site and they told her how much they had loved working at the temple, building it. They had never worked with such fine material and were never able to take this much time.

Tomorrow you will get more from Helsinki. I hope.

Suomi, Finland - Monday

Today I slept long and picked up my parents from the airport. While we drove I took some photos - this is typical for Finnland:

trees, trees, trees.

and trees.

and rocks. Mostly red ones in Helsinki. (Mind you, that is my bag shining throught the window. The rock is not striped)Another Finish thing is that because a lot of Swedes live in Finland every road sign and street sign is also in Swedish. First word is Finish, second Swedish.

We also bumped into people filming something. Yeah, not so interesting, I just thought I'd mention it. Although it was not worth it.

Afterwards my mom and I went shopping. Our first stop was Marimekko which is a very famous Finish brand. Marimekko Corporation is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company that was established in 1951. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories under the Marimekko brand, both in Finland and abroad.

The 'lady in red' is my beautiful mom. She is the one who made me Finish.

You may recognize this from Marimekko. The flower print is very famous.

I also love these prints:

and these cups:oh, they have so much more.

Then there is another famous brand called 'iittala' . Iittala creates objects that are thought through in form, function and quality. Objects with a clear thought, created to achieve long lasting everyday use and inspiration. Whether in metal, wood, porcelain or glass, Iittala design objects are tools for contemporary living.

For example they have tealight cups:

and vases:

Their design, colors and 'purity' is beautiful. I have these light blue glasses. If I had the money and space I would buy everything from iittala. It is just perfect.

This was it for today. Tomorrow I will visit the Temple and take pictures of the beautiful houses here in the area.