Thursday, 1 December, 2005, Ivalo, Finland~

Dear Louie in America~

Hai! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaas!

I am really impressed with your remembering how to say Hello! How are you ? in Finnish; you are so good with languages! LOL It was a delight to get your letter; but you will have to teach me more about Thanksgiving. We don't celebrate it here in Finland, but the food sure sounds delicious! As you know, it will soon be Pikkujoulu; Christmas here in Finland is always a big deal, and we delight in the twinkling lights, the parties, the food, and wait for Joulupukki (you call him "Santa Claus"; here he is called "Joulupukki" which means "Little Buck"). The children are always excited about Pikkujoulu, and they try to be very good so Joulupukki can bring them presents for being good. We are also very big on cooking here for Christmas (Pikkujoulu); food is king here for the holidays! I will teach you more about Pikkujoulu; it is always a fun time for us Finnish folk! :)

It is cold and snowy here, the last several nights we have had heavy snow, and now the ground is covered in a blanket of white. It is really pretty, and it is quickly putting me in the Christmas/Pikkujoulu spirit of mind!

I went shopping the other day with Nikky, and we got you guys sometthing. I know we don't HAVE to do this, but you ARE our friends in America, and you have been so supportive of not only myself, but also with my husband. He really loves you guys, and so do I! Your kids are all angels, and whenever I think of your beautiful Northern Lights Family, my heart is happy! :) We will be mailing our stuff in a day or two, so be on the lookout for something in the  mail for you all the way from Finland! :)

I am doing okay; have my bad days and my good days, but today is a good day for me. I am walking with just my cane today, but tomorrow I could be using my wheelchair or my crutches. That is the worst thing about having this multiple sclerosis; you never konw how it will be from day to day, and that is always upsetting! I hope you are okay, and I hope that Bill and the children are, too! I know this Christmas will be extra special for you this year with the adoptions of Rani, Arjun, and Janica; they seem like lovely children, and you must be thrilled to have them in your home! I can't wait to meet them the next time we come to America! Thanks for all the prayers and the support you have given to us; you are a true angel!

Louie, I am sorry you may have to work on Christmas Day. That is so awful! But I AM glad that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I know your children must have enjoyed their time off from school! I am sure that they are back in school now, and I am sure that they are already counting the days to Christmas vacation! LOL Your kids are just like the kids here; when it comes to school, at times they'd much rather be playing or be HOME than to do homework or sit in a classroom all day! LOL

How are your friends who are in hospital? I hope Horace and Gwenevere (I can't spell, please do forgive me! LOL) are feeling much better! Those tornadoes sound awful; I am glad I don't live in the American South! Between the hurricanes and the tornadoes, I would be a nervous wreck! LOL Please tell Horace and Gwenevere that they are both in my prayers, and tell them that I hope they are out of hospital soon! I hope your kids haven't had to go to hospital; I bet that is alwyays scary when you have to call for an ambulance because one of them becomes ill or hurts himself or herself!

Well, this isn't much, but as I said earlier, we are getting ready for Pikkujoulu, and we are trying to get our house in order before all the company comes! We always have a housefull during the Pikkujoulu season! Take care, my dear friend in America, and God bless you always! We send our love to you! Until the next time I hear from you, Nakemiin!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your Finnish friend, Sari Annike. :)