The gift of time

As I opened my blog last week for the first time in nearly 4 months, 

two distinct thoughts came to mind: 

1. "Where has the time gone?"

2. "Time is a precious gift."

And these lead to another question:

3. How have I used the gift of time during my stay in DC? 

This is a good question and one worth pondering, especially when I remember that although we pass through different seasons in life, with many seasons waiting in the wings, the season in which I currently live is the most important one.  

In Finland, the peonies are about to bloom.  We just wrapped up the apple blossom season. 
Having spent a season of data collection in DC, I now find myself back in Finland for a bit while I transition into the analysis and writing periods of my dissertation.

I know how much you guys are DYING to hear all about the exciting research data I gathered while I was out there.  :)  I'm sorry to disappoint.  You'll have to wait for the articles to come out in the coming months and years.  

In the meantime, I wanted to share some of the adventures and tender moments that accompanied being able to use the gift of time in the states to create lasting memories with family and friends 

I absolutely love and ADORE!

There are, well, more than a couple, so hold pull up a chair.  :)

To start, I would like to dedicate this post to Aila Phillips.  She is my Finnish 'mom' who adopted me when I first moved to Finland nearly two years ago.  Everyday we spent together she would tell me how much she loved me, how special I was, and how I was destined to do great things.  (As you can see, she has great faith in people's ability to change given that it'll require a lot of improvement on my part to rise to her call!).

Aila suffered a brain injury right before I left for the states.  I'm grateful that she is still with us; and I'm ever so grateful that she didn't wait for the perfect moment at some future date to share with me her words of love and praise.  She showed me how to use the gift of time to build and strengthen relationships which, after all, are the most important things in this life.

Here she is just yesterday!  I LOVE that her spirit still recognizes me even when her present state blocks those memories we shared.

Cooking dates with G'ma!  This time we had a great time helping G'ma mark how tall Ben's grown since he was last measured.  We can neither confirm nor deny that G'ma may or may not have needed a stair step to mark the right spot.  :) 

 

 Valentine's Day lunch date with my 'twin' sister.  

(Her colleagues thought we were twins.  

That's the BEST compliment I could hope for!!) 

It's kind of ironic that she and her co-workers were handing out heart-shaped lollipops 

to patients in the catheter lab.  :)

Presidents Day at Mount Vernon with Jennie and Adelaide.  We even saw Pres. Washington give a short speech that morning encouraging us all to thank a soldier.

A dear friend of mine from San Antonio was in town for a weekend so we were able to meet up and enjoy the afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery.  Thank you Janelle!

 

Skype date with Kate, Lali, and Emmy.  Emmy made me a smiley face out of balloons to show how happy she was that we were finally able to Skype.  AWWWW!!!!  I LOVE this girl (and her sisters)!

SignMark live in concert!  I've been using his work in lectures I give on multilingualism.  I was able to see him perform at the Kennedy Center and coerced a few friends into joining me.  :)

Kerbey Lane date with Marie and Tracie.  I LOVED my time in Austin.  I miss these women. 
I wish I could take them with me everywhere I go.

Frozen yogurt date with Tina and Alisha.  We laughed our happy selves silly that night.  My dear former Musketeer Mansion roomies--I MISS you guys!!

Car washes with John.  I love my brother!

Picnics with the kids!!  Wishing this were a daily activity. 
Who doesn't love eating hot dogs on the front lawn?!

Despite what the facial expressions might suggest otherwise, all the adults are wishing that this were a daily activity, too!  :)

Cook out on the back porch.  Nothing says Texas like grilling out back in late February! 

The words from a popular song come to mind when I see this picture: "If I could reach, higher..."  Maybe it's Gloria Estefan's song...?  Love the boy time they had at the park.

Michael adores Uncle Ben.  We all can see why!  :)

Country DANCING!!  LOVE going dancing with my sis and our brothers! 

We're working on raising the next generation of two-steppers in the Compton family.

Countless afternoons and late nights were spent enjoying conversations about the things that matter most in this world.  These are some of the most well traveled, well versed women you'll meet!  Kimberly, my flatmate when I first arrived to DC, is one of my heroes.  

Game nights at Dan's with so many great friends (and my COUSIN!!).

 Dinner dates at sunset during the cherry blossom season (see below).  This picture was taken by a passerby who stopped and asked if he could take our picture.  He said something about us being a sweet looking couple.  I think he may be on to something...  :)

(Below.  :) )

 

 Lisa's visit to DC.  One of these days we'll convince her to move out there.

I LOVE the Washington, DC, LDS temple.  It is a little piece of heaven on earth.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1198212594001

G'ma came out to visit me, too!  It was a visit I will cherish always.  

We enjoyed making many new memories while taking long walks down memory lane. 

G'ma and I drove up to Port Tobacco, MD, to visit the places where G'pa's ancestors lived when they first arrived to the Americas in the 1600s.  Joyce Candland, a family history guru and American history buff, met us at the Courthouse and gave us a nearly 2 hour lecture on the history of the town, the surrounding areas, and the Compton family history.  Absolutely amazing.

Just kitty corner to the courthouse live our relatives. 
I was tempted to go up and knock on their door...

Sarah Wheeler is, well, like an older sister to me.  She and I have known each other for more than half our lives.  She's the proud mama of Emmy (pictured above) and Kate and Lali.  She invited me to BYU's Women Conference a few years back but I haven't been able to swing a trip out west.  I was THRILLED that it worked out so that we could go together this year.  I LOVE Sarah.  

The excitement of trying one of the first strawberries from Rachel and Mike's garden. Some how they managed to avoid being in front of the camera that weekend.  :(  Sad for us!!  Love you guys!!

Hillwood Mansion in DC with Aubree, her dad, G'ma and Dan.  This place is a must-see...but only if you can go with people as AWESOME as these!  :)

Early summer nights call for smores with friends!
SOOO grateful for Aubree.  I'm grateful that friendships last forever.

Yerker Andersson.  I first met him at Gallaudet back in 1999.  What a remarkable man!!

Kati and Henry's wedding brunch.  I felt like the most honored of guests

to be there celebrating with them.  Kiitos paljon Kati ja Henry!!

I LOVED seeing Kati and Henry's parents beam with joy!!  Both fathers remarked on the blessing it is for their children to have been raised in loving families.  That is so true.

Congratulations to the radiant bride and groom!!

If I were a tulip, I'd want to be this tulip.  It resides at the Hillwood Estate.

If I were a snow ball, I would want to be this one (the one in the back, to be exact!  :) ).
It lives in Eija's garden.

Welcome back to Finland!  This is our drive home...at 3am.  Thank you Laura for the ride and for the awesome conversation.  I'm grateful for the time we had to spend together.

 Cook out on Eija's back porch surrounded by the most beautiful Finnish garden you could imagine.  Really.  She should have her own show.

The Rhein...in Wurzburg, Germany.  This was the view from the  restaurant where Kati and Henry held their wedding brunch.

Love is what brought us together that evening.  But it was a love of Nexus Analysis that initially brought us together, as students supervised by Sari.  :)

I attended church in Wurburg and there met Scout.  She is from San Antonio, lives 10 minutes from my parents, and graduated early from the International School of the Americas (where I went to school as well).  What are the odds?!  Coincidence?  Not hardly.  This young woman is a source of great strength and faith to the ward there.  She has an incredible future ahead of her!

Back in Jyväskylä transitioning into the next season of the PhD life: analysis and writing.  As much as I love that very important part of this season, what I love even more is being back with dear, dear friends like Kirsti, Katie, and Aila (who are really like family) here at 'home' in Finland.  They, like many others, have taught me that the best way to use the gift of time is to share it with others.  

I cherish these seasons of life!