Trampolines, Temples, Tablets, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

There is quite an eclectic mix of adventures to report on this week.

I'm writing this post while listening to the Easter performance (Handel's Messiah)
of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. 
All I want to do is stand with them and sing: "I know that my Redeemer liveth!"
I wouldn't be surprised if my G'pa John was listening in on their performance, too. 
I can see him giving Mack Wilberg a tip or two on how to direct this masterpiece.  :)
(One of my fondest memories of my G'pa John is sitting in the back of his big white Ford truck listening to the Messiah and watching him conduct the choir with so much passion as we were heading down to the coast from San Antonio.)

Oh my goodness.  Life is so sweet.  And so short.

 

A visiting linguistic anthropologist, Lindsay Bell, lead a two-day intensive seminar on writing ethnographically (it was fantastic!). She also gave a lecture on adapting your research to other audiences.  She co-presented with two of her colleagues, one of whom is a visual artist and the other a screen play writer.  Here we are, after the three days of activities, standing outside of the Alvar Aalto building that houses the Dept. of Languages (just for a few more months as it's about to be condemned because of mold problems; you can almost see my old office in the background). 
Lindsay's on the left and Kati's on the right.  (Kati coordinated Lindsay's visit!)

 

After a productive writing session on Thursday,

I took Friday off (it's an official holiday in Finland) and headed down to...

 

 

 

the Helsinki Temple.  I love the temple. 

 

On our way down, we stopped at a gas station that had one of these:

 

 

a trampoline!!

It was BEGGING for some attention...

 

which I was very happy to give.  :) 

Whoever thought of putting a trampoline at a gas station deserves an award. 
These are the kinds of things that pique my curiosity. 
What's the backstory to this trampoline finding its way here?!

 

Another unlikely find was this:

 



An entire container of cloudberries!!  Irma Pekkala (who I hitched a ride with down to Helsinki) apparently knows where to find cloudberries here in Jyvaskyla.  She picked these herself.  I've never seen whole cloudberries (as I've had them in jam, ice cream, and pies) and certainly not this many.  They're a very rare find in this part of the country. 

 

It's also a rare find to see clouds like these:

 



This was what the sky looked like today (Easter Sunday). 

 



It's like a blanket (or a wave or a layer of snow) covered half of the sky...

 

 

while the other half of the sky was virtually cloud-free.

 



Here's another view (with the sun shining through)

 

 And yet another view.  It was absolutely incredible--unlike anything I've seen before.

 

I also can't say I've ever seen such a large rabbit: 

 



This begs the same question as the trampoline:

What is the backstory to how this installation (a giant cement rabbit) in a school park came to be?

 

Speaking of rabbits, a certain Easter bunny brought me this:

 

 

The best parts are the Fazerina chocolate and the Pääsiäispatukka. 
(Thank you to Laura Manni for introducing me to this Easter candy.)

 

 

After the main service this morning, Taimi Jarvinen took me aside and said,
"Every Easter morning when I was young, I would wake up and find a sweet or some chocolate under my pillow."  She then handed me a sweet Easter note and a beautifully wrapped bar of chocolate:

 

 

 

I love Taimi.

 

Here's a backstory about Taimi:

One day, a year or so ago, I was on my way to the church when I passed an empty pizza box that someone had discarded on the sidewalk.  When I saw it, I thought, "I should pick it up and throw it away." I ignored the thought, but it still was nagging me as I rounded the corner to walk in the back entrance of the church.  A few minutes later, I saw Taimi walk in with an empty pizza box in her hand.  It was the same box I had walked passed.  I felt humbled by her willingness to act on the thought that I had brushed off.  I'll always remember the lesson she taught me that day.

 

I'm now SUPER LUCKY to have Taimi as one of my visiting teachers.  The women's organization I belong to (called the Relief Society) takes care of its members by assigning two sisters to watch over each member of the organization. So, for example, if I were to get sick, I could call my visiting teachers and ask if they could come by and drop off some soup or vitamin C; or if I'm moving, I could call them and ask if they could help me pack, clean the apartment, etc.  They also share short spiritual messages with those they visit teach.  In this way, there is a system in place for how to ensure that we are all taken care of--both temporally and spiritually.  Taimi is a faithful visiting teacher and my life is SO BLESSED because of the love and service that she

(and Ritva, my other visiting teacher) extend to me.

 

 

 

Tulips.  They are reaching towards the sun (the dining room window is to the left). 
I couldn't help but see how these flowers bear record of a divine Creator.

 



 Sister Cribbs (on the right) and Sister Dixon (on the left) came over for Easter lunch. 

Sis. Cribbs has been serving as a full-time missionary for the last 10 months in Jyvaskyla (which is a really long time; most missionaries are assigned to an area for 3-6 months before being moved to another area).  She has now been assigned to serve in Espoo (right down the street from the TEMPLE!!!) where she'll finish out her 18 month mission.  We will miss her terribly.  She is one of the most Christ-like missionaries I've been blessed to meet.

 

 

During these 10 months, Katie has outgrown her.  Sis. Cribbs isn't sure how she feels about this.  :)

 

 

I loved spending Easter with my Finnish family: Kirsti, Katie, Aila, Sis. Cribbs and Sis. Dixon. 

 

The Hansens, an American family from the states, came to Finland last May and were planning to stay for six months but ended up staying a year.  They're returning to the states next week.  Yay for them! Sad for us.  The Hansen kids  (Connor is in the white shirt and pink tie on the front row with his sister Edith to his right and Adelaide to Edith's right).  They remind me so much of my nieces and nephews.  I LOVE how Adelaide and Edith light up when they see me.  (Granted, it's probably because I'm one of few people who speak to them in English :) ).  The kids are posing for a picture with the other kids in the junior Sunday School.  These kids CRACK ME UP!!  I love playing the piano for these kids in their Sunday School classes. 

 

And here's Ada (my little yogi, Miss Adelaide!)...

 

giving me a virtual kiss from my dad's iPad/tablet. 
I LOVE THIS GIRL!! 
I wish someone would figure out teleportation so I could be there with her
and the rest of her FANTASTIC family. 

I. love. being. an. aunt. ...

 

almost as much as my dad loves being a grandpa.  (His grin gives it away!)

I think we may have to have an arm wrestling match to decide who loves their role most.  :) 

I loved listening to the kids laugh and play with Grandpa as I visited with my mom.  This is the best part about life: being able to spend time with our families and friends. 

 

Happy Easter!! 

"He is risen, as he said he would."