21 Jan., 2014, Ivalo, Finland~

Terve!  Miitaa kuuluu??  Kiitos hyvaa!

This is your Finnish friend, Sari Annike, writing.  Know it's been a while sine I last wrote in my blog; but have been very busy raising my family, plus still dealing with my health issues, but I am doing fairly well.  Hope you understand.

The children are all getting so big now: Birtta Aurora is now six, while Erik Karlssen is five.  Ilsa Margarita is three while Fia Johanna is two.  As for baby Soren Nikolas, he turned a year old this past Christmas Eve, 24 December.  Two of the children are in preschool while the two oldest are in "big kids" school: Birtta is in first grade and Erik is in kindergarten.  The only one who remains home with me is Soren, who is still a baby.

Nik and I have decided that there will be no more children.  Five is more than enough, especially since sometimes my health will not allow me to properly care for the children because I am in such pain or discomfort, or my eyes and muscles are acting up again.  So we have to be content with what we already have; I just thank God that they are all healthy.

The weather is still very cold here, but the days are starting to get longer; there's more daylight approaching; by June, there will be up to 20 hours of daylight and the sun will not set but for maybe a few hours, and then it's just above the horizon when it does.  Meanwhile, in winter, the days are practically nonexistant, with nothing but the aurora borealis lighting up our way.

Such as life here in the Arctic Circle.

This summer, Nik and I are taking the children to Greece, so they can meet their relatives on their father's side.  It's something we have discussed for the past few years, and I think it will be good to see them see new environs and to meet new people and experience new things.

We are really looking forward to it; it's been several years since we last went on a vacation, and the first one as a family.  It is really going to be interesting, to say the very least.

Regrettably, we will not be attending the Olympics next month.  We don't have the money, and we have run up a lot of expenses (mostly medical; I was in the hospital back in November, where I underwent a hysterectomy after I started bleeding uncontrollably; it truly scared me, and I had complications; I am still recovering).  I am most sad because I have enjoyed the Olympics we have been able to attend, but this year we will watch them on television instead.

Well, I hate to go, but Soren is crying; I hear him mewing from the next room; he must be waking up from his nap.  I will write in here again soon; just say some prayers for us, especially me; the past few months have been rough!  I would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance!

Until next time, this is Sari saying Nakemiin!  Take care and God bless!

~Love, your friend in Finland, Sari Annike.  :)