Memories of Summer: Hanko

Finland's Nature

The best thing about Finland is the nature. The many lakes, the coast line, the forests, the humble wild flowers, and the bounty that the nature offers in the form of berries and mushrooms. Finnish summer is so beautifully green. The growing season is short but it's intense with so much light during the summer. The Finnish forest has a calming effect, almost magical in its ability to relax and quiet the mind. Being in the forest is a meditation, good for the soul.

Life on the Fast Lane

A month has whizzed by just like that. Because I'm at that point where there's so much to do all the time, and so many things constantly buzzing in my head, it's sometimes really hard to let it all go for a moment. But that's exactly what you need to do when the going gets crazy. Literally just grab a moment and enjoy it, like this sunshiny moment with a friend that I shared last Saturday.

I want to post more often because I feel like posting helps me slow down and process my life. There's just so many competing time requirements (work, kids, husband, volunteer work, friends) that I literally don't have any time left. But I'll try to squeeze in a post here and there.

Confirmation Ceremony

The lutheran church celebrates two sacraments, baptism (or christening) when the baby is small, and the communion, which you can take at the mass every Sunday. Your fist communion takes place at  the confirmation (where you confirm that you identify with the religion) after you have learned all the basic tenets of the religion, catechism, prayers, etc., in the year you turn 15. The Finns do this teaching the fun way, at a camp (rippileiri), where kids talk about religion, god, morals, the way to be in the world and how be a good person. The camp makes you think about what kind of a person you want to be, and what you believe in. At the end of the camp is the confirmation ceremony. 

We celebrated my daughter's confirmation in Pieksämäki on Sunday, August 6th. She went to an international rippileiri and was confirmed at the end of the camp along with 60 other young people. She had a great time at the camp, and, most importantly, I felt that she grew mentally, emotionally and spiritually. These are the important milestones in the journey toward adulthood, and becoming the person you want to be.