Saturday, November 3, 2006, Ivalo, Finland~

Dear Friend Louie Sandusky in America~

Terve! Mittaa kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaa!

As you may have guessed by the greeting, you may have guessed that this is Sari. Well, you are correct. *grins* Thanks for your endearing letter; it was wonderful to hear from you again!

I am glad you are over  your sickness; I hope your husband and your children took very good care of you. Hopefully you are feeling stronger by now. I had it in the spring, and I thought I would never get my strength back; it seemed to take forever!!

Birtta, Nik, and myself are all well. Today, my MS is behaving itself for the most part. I am just using my cane today, and my eyes are acting as they should, thank goodness. There's no telling what it may do later, but for now I will take the improvements in my health! :)

Birtta is trying to crawl: she is kneeling on her hands and knees, and she is trying to crawl, but all she does is rock back and forth and make cooing noises or giggles. She is really coming along in her development, and she is very healthy, according to her paediatrician. I thank God for that; Birtta is my world, and I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to her; I'd be devastated!

Nik is outside, raking the leaves into a pile, and it is a Herculean task because the neighbourhood kids end up jumping in the leaf pile, and then Nik has to rake the leaves all over again. He is getting frustrated, and I can hear him cursing in Greek! I hope the baby doesn't hear him! LOL

I heard from Ilsa Rekkonen today: she is working now; she is working at a computer place. She started there last week, and she loves it. I won't be hearing from her as much, but at least we can still keep in touch with each other by phone! She is (and always has been) a wonderful friend to me. She and I go back a long ways.

I heard from my brother Markku today, and he and his wife, Kaaren, are getting a divorce. Seems that their relationship for the past few months has gone sour, and all they have been doing since then is fighting.

Please keep them in your prayers; they are both having a hard time, and I am wondering what is going to happen with their kids, Paaken (son, aged 8) and Gerta-Elise (daughter, aged 6 1/2). They were always a close family, but somewhere down the line something went wrong with Markku and Kaaren's relationship, and now the entire family suffers. It is really a very sad situation; it makes me cry everytime I think of it!

How is the weather there in Tennessee? I hope it isn't too nasty for you. Here it is coolish, temps in the fifties, and patchy skies (sun and clouds). It is rather nice outside.

Did you get the pictures of the auroras that we sent you? We have been having lots of auroral activity here lately, and it's really been spectacular to watch! I hope you get to see some auroras where you are at!

Well, this is about all that is new here. I will write again soon. In the meantime, thanks for your letter; it is always good to hear from my friend in America! Your letters make my heart sing with joy, and they bring me such happiness! I love hearing from you!

Until later, God bless, and Nakemiin!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your Finnish friends, Sari Annike, Nikolas, and Birtta Aurora. :D