A Spring Update

Spring is finally here and we've packed away our boots for the time being.

Our woods are full of eager birds these days and I open the window each morning as I drink my coffee in bed to hear their songs.

There are also rabbits and Ellen stragetically leaves carrots out for them to keep them coming back.  I don't think our neighbors realize this.  And if they do, I hope they don't mind.

Matias and Ellen have picked the first of the wood anemones for me and they are happily blooming on our windowsill. 

Ellen has become a big girl suddenly.  Her pacifier has long since been forgotten and is something only "babies" use.  Some nights she even sleeps in her own bed until it's time to get up, though most mornings she'll crawl into our bed at some early hour and I'll wake to find her head or feet snuggled into my side.

We're eagerly awaiting our first cabin weekend.  Our first time away from Helsinki in much too long and our first time on the sea since the snow melted.

We're awaiting the summer, the beach days, the endless strawberries, the endless days of light, that particular feeling of ease.

But for now it is spring and we no longer have to wear a hat and that is good enough.

Noteworthy Quote #69

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night as I slept,
I dreamt—marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

-ANTONIO MACHADO

Ellen's 2nd Birthday

Ellen has been 2 for a few weeks now, so I figured it's about time that I got some pictures from her birthday party on here.  Since I was celebrating my 30th birthday that same weekend, we tried to have a little bit more simple party for Ellen, and mainly just had her grandparents over for a tea party.  Ellen loves tea parties, so having a ton of her favorite people over for the occasion made the day very special for her!

Getting ready for her tea party.

 The table all set.

Tea sandwiches, of course.

Ellen's tea party in her own room.

 Looking like a little lady (for one day).

Opening presents.

A glockenspiel!

And Legos!

Trying out her new bicycle.

Blowing out the candles on her cake.

My miniature cakes looked a little ghetto.

At least Ellen thought they were good!

And one more picture of her being cute 

and smiling for the camera!

In a way it feels amazing that she's already 2 now, but sometimes it also feels like this time has been so long that she should be turning 5 or so now!  It's amazing how much can happen in two years, and I really look forward to seeing what the next one brings.

ps.  Thanks to my sister Sini for the pictures!

Noteworthy Quote #68

"When you seek God
Seek Him in your Heart."
-YÛNUS EMRE

My 30th Birthday

Last weekend was a busy one for us.  Not only was I celebrating my 30th birthday, but Ellen had her 2nd birthday as well.  To make the weekend more enjoyable for me, I didn't stress about planning a birthday party for myself and went out for dinner with a few girlfriends instead.  To make the evening more festive, my sister and I got decked out in 1920's gear.  Here's a few pictures from the evening:

My new look.

Friends.

Food.

Presents.

Cocktails.

And my sister.

This was definitely the most relaxed way to spend my birthday.  The next day (which was my real birthday), I had the cleaning people come over so I could just relax and spent the afternoon reading, spending time with my family, and making cupcakes for Ellen's birthday.  The pictures from her celebration will be here soon too...

A Successful Family Picture

One of the little annoyances in my life is that we can never get a successful picture of our entire family.  If both me and Matias look fine in a picture, Ellen will be moving around, sticking her tongue out, and/or crying.  And on the rare occasion that she looks normal, there's a great chance that Matias will have his eyes closed.  (I, of course, look fine in all the pictures).

This weekend was no different.  We managed to get one great picture of me and Matias where Ellen was moving around, and then another good pic of me and Ellen where Matias had his eyes closed.  Well, after looking at the pictures, Sini jokingly said that maybe her co-worker could Photoshop the two together for us.  Long story short: he did combine the two pictures, resulting with this:

 

So now we have one good picture of us!  Amazing!  And all it took was some modern technology and photo alteration skills...

Noteworthy Quote #67

"Leave the senses and workings of the intellect, and all that the senses and intellect can perceive, and all that is not and that is; and through unknowing reach out, so far as this is possible, towards oneness with Him who is beyond all being and knowledge. In this way, through an uncompromising, absolute and pure detachment from yourself and from all things, transcending all things and released from all, you will be led upwards towards that radiance of the divine darkness which is beyond all being.

Entering the darkness that surpasses understanding, we shall find ourselves brought, not just to brevity of speech, but to perfect silence and unknowing.

Emptied of all knowledge, man is joined in the highest part of himself, not with any created thing, nor with himself, nor with another, but with the One who is altogether unknowable; and, in knowing nothing, he knows in a manner that surpasses understanding."

-ST. DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE