hirviniemi.net

2009-04-26T15:01:00.002+03:00

We took a walk around a nearby prehistoric fortified hill of Vanhalinna. It dates back as early as 1000-500 BC which is very early up here. The site serves quite nicely for a two hour walk around, although there isn't much left from the fortress. We did, however, see some heirs of the original residents.

On the bottom of the hill the first flowers are blooming.

On the sunny side of the hill the decendants of the original inhabitants are still keeping the hill alive. I shot the other one from a bit of a distance; one to be polite, two because it's so fast, and three because of its poisonous bite.

Up on the top, it's easy to see why did they built the fortress right here. It offers a great view over the fields or the area.

Today it was so windy it blew Olivia's hat off. (Click the image bigger to see it fly) =)

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T16:53:00.002+03:00

We potted some flowers in decoration for Easter and spring. It's been beautiful to see first the snow to run short and then disappear giving room for the first flowers push up. In a month it'll all be so summery and nice.

The bros and I took a walk to woods and found a monster forest as they named it. We saw no monsters or any other creatures living in woods, but the truth is that they surely saw us. =)

Life framed by death

2009-03-31T14:05:00.001+03:00

Life is framed by death. The true value of life can only become visible in contrast to death. Therefore seeing death is crucial to value life.

The starkest frame to life is its biological end by death. That's the borderline ending everything that now seem alive and true. Death and life are equally real, and the line that separates us from the dead is absolute. Perhaps because of its absolute nature and cruelty by which death removes our dearest from us, we relate to it with fear and avoidance. Acknowledging its ever-so-near presence, we attempt to remove it from our awareness and live like death would not exist. By this we create a lie that originates in fear and leads us afar from living on the value of life. Fear of death causes us to lose life. Realizing death in the lives of our dearest ones brings up a need to be close to them, to love and to be loved, - and suddenly we are face to face with true value of life. Unfortunately the moment was sparked by fear which then overshadows its beauty. For a short moment, however, we love desperately, knowing that in another moment we go back to living as if death didn't exist, consuming the life in everything else than enjoying it's most valuable content.

Death is present in our lives in other ways, too. It becomes visible in all limitedness such as the mentioned inability to really live. We were created to live loving, to connect with people in love - to love and to be loved. That's life; whereas, everything falling short from it is death - and death is what we do, all the time. Lying to ourselves about necessities and obligations - which we undeniable have, but a lot less than we often admit. Therefore, we are unable to truly live, and this inability is part of death framing our life.

Seeing death is painful, but as we come clean as insufficient, unable, and incompetent, our only hope is in grace that grants us right to keep on possessing the gift of life. Whereas, love is life at healthiest, grace is life in genuine as sick people as we are. Grace holds all the powers by which we can receive love, and by living in grace we can share love around us. Realizing death through our own inabilities leads us to the most genuine state of life: Grace, from which focusing to the true valuables of life is a lot easier.

The giver of life promises our life to continue after the biological death, but seeing death and realizing it powers gives live before death the value it deserves. This is how death serves as frames leading our eyes to the beautiful artwork the creator trusted in our hands.

The purpose of Life as Suggested by Our Trinitarian Roots.

2009-03-10T14:51:00.008+02:00

Something to sketch out some ideas that has been circulating my (so weary) head.

The purpose of life is to live. woah. So simple, so true. The deepest purpose of your and my lives is for us to live the life. That's the reason we were given the life for - to live it.

We show symptoms of missing the whole point by focusing our lives with questions such as: "what do I want to do with my life" - as if there would a better usage of life than living it. "What do I want to use my life for?" - just like anything other than living it would be a higher goal. We are curious people and we ask questions, but perhaps a better way to phrase it would be "what is the fruit my life carries while I'm focusing on living it". But there no higher goal for me to reach, than to live the life I've been given.

Life is the most valuable thing we posses. In fact it's the only thing we possess. We do have some administrative right over some items such as houses, computers, etc through the common agreements in our communities, but all these rights we let go as our biological life ends. Whereas; the life we possess, we keep possessing as long as the Giver of Life so chooses, and what we know is that by His design we are eternal. It is a gift to us on a momentary basis, yet the only thing we actually do have.

So, I conclude that the life we possess as a gift from the Giver of Life, is the only truly valuable thing we have, so the only truly valuable purpose of live is to live it.

Now, living a life cannot be understood apart from people around us. The life in each one of us is something we share in common. We've got the same Father, Three-in-One God, that created us in His image. I'm not one to explain out Trinity, but I do deduct that three persons can be one, only trough perfect mutual love that creates a relationship in complete honesty which brings about absolute openness - resulting in unity that voids any separation.

Our origin is in God consisting of three persons in one through love-honesty-openness, who created us in his likeness, into his presence. (From this presence we were cut out as a logical consequence from our self centered activity, by which we brought a secret to openness, a lie to honesty and shame to the perfect love.) In respect to our origin, to truly live is to function upon love-honesty-openness, which is a unifying principle that cannot be applied self centered or alone. To be created in likeness of God who is One unity of three persons, obviously defines us as something with relationship to others. Any observation on human life immediately reveals that we cannot live on our own. Wherever you go you find people together, in families, villages, communities, nations and international affairs. Moreover, if you put 20 people to a room, and no matter how strangers they previously are, within 30mins you've got groups that feel like belonging together. On the other hand, our disease of selfishness is always there to destroy our relationships.

So, the purpose for my existence is to live - in ever growing closeness to three-in-one God, - in ever growing closeness to other human beings - brought about by functioning upon the principle of love-honesty-openness.

The most valuable thing we possess is life, and living it brings it best fruit in lifestyle that cherishes life in and around us. You and I exist to live, and the deepest living happens with the deepest love.

What would it mean to you on practical daily basis, i don't know. I know a few things it means to me, and I know that on many of those few things I keep failing miserably, and my dearest ones bears the worst consequences.

But we are called by our Father - the Giver of our life, to the process of restoration, and by his grace we can go on traveling towards our home, the presence of Three-in-One God, where we'll be restored perfect from the disease that currently blind us.

done with christmas =)

2009-03-02T12:51:00.002+02:00

We are not having Christmas all year long, as the blog may suggest. It's more that our virtual socializing has channeled more through facebook, besides that other engagements of life has been keeping us quite busy.

We have had the most beautiful winter for many years with plenty snow and freeze. These to coupled created an excellent slope to the river banks, which we've tried to take the advantage as long as it lasts - which can't be for too long considering the ever warming sunshine.

Here's a couple of shots from Sunday, mainly shot by Sarita.

2008-12-23T17:11:00.002+02:00

A couple more of lately pictures.
The kids are all excited and enjoy every bit of expecting Christmas. Last night, they decorated the Christmas tree - under momma's supervision, of course.

It was Benjamin's turn to fix the star this year.

This year, the traditional gingerbread house was split into three cabins that each one got to decorate for him/herself. This is Olivia fighting the temptation of tasting the icing sugar...

(...the temptation was heavy indeed, and didn't let her go until momma saved the village back to shelf...)

Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T22:49:00.005+02:00

We wish you a joyful and blessed Christmas time and a happy year to come!

5months-1post (a juicy concentrate)

2008-12-16T22:24:00.004+02:00

a long overdue blog post... life's been rather hectic over these months and blogging didn't make it very high on the priority list... Now, we've settled down to new home, new town, new life and enjoying it - missing friends in Kotka terribly - but loving it here too. =)

Anyway, here we are. This is - the most bloggable bits and pieces of - our life since August up to date. Mainly shot by Sarita, this time.

A couple of shot from the neighborhood. Olivia gardening our backyard, and boys chasing one another at the near-by play ground.

Despite all the changes, the kids didn't lose their alter ego's and, occasionally, the superheros still keep making the world a better place.

Joonatan started school, and this is he on the very first morning... only about 9years to go, before further studies - that is... but you've got to start somewhere, right. Currently he's planning on becoming a doctor - which makes momma a slightly happier than planning on becoming a detective, let alone a spiderman or one of the turtles. =)

Along the way we (or actually sarita w/ some assistance from the kids) has been renovating the house. Got to say, I'm quite proud of her and the results...

Olivia got her own desk and chair. This is her enjoying the first go with it after we got it up from ikea box.

The first snow arrived sometime ago (and left soon later). We are praying daily that - against all the odds - we would get snow for Christmas. Currently, it looks white outside, but the forecast is quite miserable - but we try not to think about it... Well, we're glad it showed up, at least.

The church underneath is the near-by Lutheran church, built in around 15oos.

Lately too, Benjamin turned 5. Here's some pics from the parties - which we had arrange two to host all. =)

the brave little sister

2008-09-23T13:04:00.002+03:00

Some shots of the brave little princess. She might be quite cautious with the stuff like loud noises, but the boldest of sibling as it comes to getting in touch with people and animals. Here she is investigating juniber at the near by woods, and socializing with she-coats at Kotilainen ranch - which we visited to celebrate Oiva cousin's birthday - of which pics will follow...

so tragic

2008-08-23T07:55:00.002+03:00

All ashamed I now continue the set of posts related to our current life change. This is hard to make sound tactful, but I'm canceling my participation in the CTS Challenge 2008. It overlaps so bad with my first days in the new job that I just can't think of going.

This doesn't mean the challenge would be dead. We've got some 10 people in the list, and I wish that everyone goes ahead to beat him/herself into longer life expectancy. Wyrwals at CTS has promised to host the after race alumni re-union, and I regret us missing that even more than missing the race.

cheers to all you joggers, and pardon for my unsportsmanlike manner.

we are still called hirviniemi

2008-08-19T17:00:00.002+03:00

It's time to open up. The last three months changed basically everything in our life, except the name and the blog... new town, new house, two new jobs. So, it's the time to give you a major update.

We now live in Lieto, a little village by Turku, south-west coast of Finland. The reason for moving was my new job as the Pastor for Young Adults and Families in Turku Pentecostal Church. The church made the decision this Sunday, and now we are in process of discussing with the church' leadership the starting date and other details.

The other job is my temporary job as an assistant to my brother in law who builds stone patios etc. Basically I carry stones, make cement, shovel grit and sand. It's quite not like my life time calling, but for a month are two I can't think of more relaxing job. Eight hours days, meeting nobody, thinking nothing and worrying even less, no planning, no working out the plans, no meetings, no nothing. Just picking up stones in a good company of fun bro-in-law - who, on the contrary, does a lot of thinking and planning and all other difficult part of the trade. I'm just the assistant.

However, it's a good way of re-orientating for the new challenges that come along with up-coming job. It looks like really exciting thing, and centers around many themes that have grown important to me over last few years. The bottom line of the job is uniting the church 25-40yearers better together, and bringing their perspective into church leadership. Which means like a lot of challenges, but in very interesting themes. So, while still acting Obelix for few more weeks, I'm getting more and more eager to start with the new office.

All this has happened since May when we made up our minds that we are leaving Kotka and looking for a new set-up for our life. We knew back then that if things are to work out, they should work out at once, and we gave it a change. What we saw, was God helping us with every detail, and now we're feeling peace to settle our life around here.

I'll post some pics sometime soon.

Birthdays

2008-07-20T09:18:00.002+03:00

Olivia turned two this week and on yesterday Joonatan had the party for his upcoming 7th birthday. Here are pictures of them at the cakes and candles.

Katarina Park

2008-07-18T17:54:00.006+03:00

We took the kids down to Katarina park in Kotka. It's the south-most tip of Kotka island that went through a major transformation from abandoned oil harbour into a gorgeous park just a year ago. Here's some pics.

Last week an expert from the USA was interviewed in the local free paper. She had come over to check out the labyrinth that's laid out in the park, and told that walking it through fixes basically all your worries and by balancing your energies... ...perhaps we did not have right kind of worries to start with, but the effect wasn't earth shaking. Nevertheless, the kids had fun and ended up running - surprisingly - a nearly kilometer of path way.

sweet summer days

2008-07-12T19:37:00.003+03:00

A couple of photos from the last few days.

Olivia asked to be shot by the flowers with her new pants and skirt.

the 10th Anniversary

2008-06-15T13:27:00.003+03:00

We took our 10th anniversary trip to Tallinn, Estonia. We have developed a habit of visiting a new beautiful city on each anniversary. Previously always in Finland, but since our marriage goes on and on, we are running out of beautiful Finnish cities... =) (We are open for recommendations if you have one in mind - it has to be one that neither one of us is previously too familiar with ) Besides this, the 10th anniversary was a good reason to stretch the qualifications.

We had three relaxing days in Tallinn, eating nice, shopping and seeing the beautiful Old City - and enjoying the great company of just the two of us. Here are some pics.

Graduation banquet

2008-06-07T07:58:00.005+03:00

Sarita's sister, Heidi, graduated from high school, and the families got together for a celebration. We had a great time seeing the extended family and some friends. The weather was beautiful - luckily so, because just the families counted over 120. Congratulations, Heidi, and thank you for a great banquet.

Here's the whole tribe - Sarita's family - the parents, their four daughters and a son with their spouses and kids, missing only the oldest of the youngest generation, Aleksi, who had to leave early

The kids, the cousins and second cousins - of which here's a fraction - had a more of a sporty party. It surely wasn't the most phlegmatic and mute reunion, but they got along great.

Here's the two girls of the ten cousins, Sofia and Olivia.

way to go, brotha B!

2008-05-02T15:44:00.003+03:00

Benjamin beat the beast and forsook the training wheels. A half an hour training in two occasion made it and here goes the hero.

Mysterious Gourmet Girl

2008-04-16T17:36:00.010+03:00

I(sarita) thought to blog about some funny events with Olivia... One day I was lucky to capture Olivia's determined face as she was coming out of the boys' room. She had been there for few minutes alone and as I shouted her, she came out quiet and mysterious... (she had been playing with the cards and cause quite a mess)

I was doing something in the kitchen and turned my back to Olivia (as I turn my back to her I'm normally prepared that something unusual may happen). Suddenly Benjamin was shouting " mum look, Olivia is eating an onion!" She was eating it like people normally eat apples, and seemed to enjoy it. Her breath was smelling "great" as I gave her a good night kiss.=)

Brussels Marathon - site opened

2008-04-14T07:46:00.003+03:00

Just a quick note to the folks who's picked up the CTS challenge 2008 - to run Brussels city half marathon in October 5. The site is opened for registration, so go ahead and engage yourself into the plan. You know, it's always better to be running for your money than just your life...

So far we've got some 11 people sign up, mainly from alumni and staff, which indicates an awesome reunion celebration after the race.

cheers to all trainees .

springtime bliss

2008-04-12T18:30:00.004+03:00

I've been fortunate to have my free weekends at each meaningful spots this spring, sarita's birthday, Easter, my birthday, and momma's day (yet to come) Besides, I did have the first two months off, but that wasn't pure luck. This weekend is the third in the list above, and to celebrate me getting 29 we've been doing some special stuff. We'd probable have done all the same without my birthday, but once it's around let's call it the excuse.

Today, we went outdoors. We grabbed some sandwiches and coffee & juice and spent nice two hours in sunny woods. Brothas did some research with a magnifying glass, tested they limits jumping on the rocks, and all three of them cast stones, and had papa join them building a dam. It must be some 20years since my last dam, but it still is as exciting as it's always been. (just go ahead and check my word) and o'yeah, Mr. Frog was there waiting for Miss Mouse.

finding nemo

2008-04-10T18:22:00.002+03:00

We took the kids (and ourselves) to see some fishes in SeaLife, Helsinki. It was kind of tricky shooting memories since they prohibit flash, but we had a great time. Here's a couple pics. Boys watch a shark swim by, and the nemos, as that sort of fishes apparently are called for some years to come.

winter fun

2008-03-28T13:27:00.002+02:00

a couple of pics from last weekend when the boys and I spent a great day in my family's cottage with granddad and grandma.

Kinda weird, but whereas rest of the southern finland has very little ice, the lake at our cottage has ice solid enough to carry a car. One of the neighbors keeps the ice road clear throughout the wintertime, and all the cottage in the island have a private parking right in place of the jetty in summertime.

Next week the weather is forecast to get a seriously warmer, so the road's not going to be open a lot longer. It sounds like a good idea to keep an eye on the forecasts before parking a car there for a long weekend. Or else, you might end up having to buy another car for the summer.

Succesful Leadership 101: Principles: Communication Always Fail - Except Sometimes

2008-03-28T11:42:00.006+02:00

We made a deal with the brothas that they should clean their room before they can go on watching dvd. Strictly speaking, Sarita told them to "clean the room of the legos because it's such a mess..." As not usual, the boys replied just "ok" and started working. Unusually - or better, spectacularly, I heard them shout "done!" just three minutes later - and then disappeared back to watch the movie.

All amazed, Sarita and I went to testify this miraculous event, here's the results. See the difference? - Me neither - at the first glance. But, when the boys were asked what sort of a cleaning was that, the reply was quick: you only spoke about the legos.

And, francly say, the lego part of the mess at the center low, is in fact visibly different.

when the darkness fall...

2008-03-17T13:53:00.003+02:00

Benjamin throws out the stuffed squirrel and bear every night before he goes to bed. In the daytime they stay on his bed serving well as toys, but when the night comes - they eyes become scary.

So, out they go - with a swing - and sleep in the hallway. One night we took a picture for later evidence.

...and she passed the pole

2008-03-17T13:38:00.003+02:00

Sarita reached 30 on the 13th of March. We had a couple of nice parties with families - a couple of them because of scheduling issues, but enjoyable anyhow. Here's a pic of my Mrs sweetie. Congratulations.