Days 13 & 14 w/ Our Finn Girls: The Last Days

Just realized I never wrote about the last couple days with our lovely Finn girls, so I decided to do that.

Day 13:  Monday.  The Last Day.  Unfortunately, I had to make cupcakes that day for a wedding on Tuesday so that's pretty much what I spent my day doing.  Had to run to the store in the morning for some ingredients and then had to make 200+ cupcakes.  Kind of a boring day . . . but oh well.  Anyways, the girls (Rachel, Emma, Tonja, & Josefine) had been out late . . . excuse me . . . quite early . . . in the morning and slept in.  Then they along with Tara headed to Moulton Falls (it was a HOT day) and walked a bit and then sat down on the rocks and waded in the water.  Josefine went in a bit more than the other girls.  :)  Anyways, after they got home they packed.  That evening there was volleyball at Rick & Kathy's so we went and spent the evening there.  We had so much fun talking and joking around and simply being "different".  Haha!

Day 14:  Tuesday.  Up early to head to the church as the girls and the last of the Finns were leaving that morning to head to Seattle.  At the church everyone said their, perhaps, slightly teary, good-byes.  A few last hugs and good-byes, waving, and then they were gone, with prayers for safe travels headed right after them.  I actually had to head into the church to frost the cupcakes then so I did that and then went and did a little bit of shopping.

It was really so good to be able to experience hosting the Finn girls and I'm sure everyone who hosted someone was blessed by it.  I would so do it again in a heartbeat.

It is a bit ironic that I was a bit hesitant about hosting them, and really selfish on my part.  I truly would not trade that experience for anything.  I would encourage others to host people.  To have that experience.  I have regrets about the times when the girls were here, that I didn't get to know them better.  That I held myself back so much.  As soon as they were gone, I wished I would've asked them this and this and this.  Wondering about their lives.

When they were gone, it was like such a hit back to reality.  Like bammm!  The fun, the blessed times, done.  I know life moves on.  And really, the fun and blessed times weren't done.  They were just different.  Things change.  We move on.  But the memories are there.  Unchanging.

"Midnight Sun, Kuopio, Finland"

But now, I truly wish to go to Finland.  To Scandinavia.  I've always thought it would be cool to go there.  Now, I know I would really want to.  And I hope and wish and dream.  Of a time maybe I can go there.  Maybe, someday, I will be able to go.  And if not, well, I know God has a plan for me.  Whatever that plan is, I simply need to be content.  To seek His will.  His way.  But right now, I know I can't go.  Right now,  I need to find a job.  And to be content with the way things are.

And now I will quit writing before my post gets even longer.  Simply filled with writing.  Have a wonderful day!

Day 3 w/ Our Finn Girls - 4th of July

On the 4th of July, all the Finns and their host families were invited to John and Deanne's house for dessert and then a barbecue supper.  We arrived in the early afternoon and enjoyed the day with lots of visiting, volleyball (and volleyball watching!), eating, and the like.

People visiting. :)

Morgan - and as you can see behind her . . . people playing volleyball!  I put my camera away after this so I only got these couple pictures there. :(

After the barbecue, a lot of people went up to Carl & Becky's for dessert and fireworks.

They have this absolutely gorgeous view from their house!

People visiting there in the early part of the evening.

Josefine, Emma, & Tonja - beautiful as always! :)

Rachel, Tonja, Josefine, & Emma visiting.

People playing volleyball . . . what else would you do?!  But that was just the pros....

People watching/listening to the program thing they had before the fireworks show started.

I had taken some pictures of the fireworks but they didn't really turn out, so I won't bother sharing them.  As with all those days, it was an amazing day that I enjoyed!  Hope you all had a lovely 4th as well!

Day 2 w/ Our Finn Girls - Oregon Coast Trip 7/3

 On the "young kids" bus . . . it was filled all the way!  The other bus also had more young people on it (and ours had a few that weren't as young:)

Emma & Josefine

Clifford

Andreas

Shayne

Our first stop was the Tillamook Cheese Factory.  We were on our own, but we were supposed to eat lunch here.  Touring the factory, sampling cheese, eating lunch from the cafe, eating ice cream, and the gift shop.

Amanda & Pamela

Eating Lunch - William, Tara, Bethany, & Clifford

At Tillamook, some of the Finn guys had bought rubber band guns.  It made for some amusing rubber band "wars" back on the bus . . . Fun times!!!  Pamela had went down the aisle and was laying on the ground getting a bunch of rubber bands that were sitting there to shoot to the back of the bus . . . it was amusing!!

We stopped at a viewpoint to see the ocean.

People looking out at the ocean.

A really neat picture, even if it didn't turn out the best!  Most of the Finn young kids along with a few other people. 

Our next stop was Seaside.  We were there for a few hours.  We could do whatever we wanted . . . go to the beach, shop in town or whatever we felt like doing.

The beach.

Some of the girls going out in the water. 

Some pretty flowers I saw when I was walking down to the beach.

After our time at Seaside, we hopped back on the bus and drove a few minutes to a different part of town to get some supper.  Taco Bell, Subway, or McDonald's.

Me and Pamela 

After that we headed to the Astor Column.  Man, do you get winded running (or even fast walking like I did) up all those steps!  We all were quite winded by the time we got to the top!

View from the top.  The two buses in the center are the buses we rode all day.  They are quite nice! 

Headed down the stairs.  Twirly-whirly!

The Astor Column - Another one of those places I'd never been to before! 

And the bus trip back home.

It was SUCH an enjoyable and fun day!  So many wonderful memories!  I was so glad I was able to be a part of it. :)

Day 1 w/ Our Finn Girls - Multnomah Falls 7/2

We hosted a group of the 3 girls from Finland for a couple weeks.  It was so fun and such a blessing . . . so sad when they and the whole group left back to Finland!

Funny Fact: Actually the first time I've went to Multnomah Falls and I live here!!

"Our girls" - Josefine, Emma, & Tanja

Tonja, Tara, Emma, Josefine, Me, & Rachel - After part way walking up to the top of the Falls.

The other girls at the top of the falls.

Looking down on the Falls.

Tara & Rachel

Me & Tara

It was an enjoyable and interesting day!

Graduation!!

I graduated . . . finally!!!  And yet it came so fast . . . 

Me with all my lovely flowers from some lovely people!

 Mom, Me, Dad

Me with my Uncle Rick and Aunty Kathy, who are also my Godparents

Rachel, Me, Tara

Katrina, Me, Pamela

Me and Renae 

All my lovely flowers!

It's exciting to have reached this milestone in my life, and yet it's crazy that I'm now done with school and get to move on in my life to something different.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day!