Jelly#3

Home Time

2011-12-24T00:37:00.011+02:00

Jaith Edwards Ogden

Tues afternoon: "Kyrie: Auntie Laura can you call my mom?

Auntie La: Why? K: To ask her if you and me can have supper at Subway.

Auntie La: Well how bout when you come to visit Grammie?

K: Well we could pick up Trey and it could be an niece, nephew & auntie thing....

LOL

HOW could I resist soooooo.....

Picked up Miss Kyrie from school and had lunch

with her & Trey at Subway

Our sleep over "non slumber" party :D

Lil Miss Kyrie wanted to do Auntie's hair

Bethany Dawn Jelinek

New parents Ryan & Alishia

Bethany Dawn Jelinek December 16th 2011

Lyrah Renee Ogden

Bethy & Auntie Laura

Kyrie Nicole Weeda

Trey Elliot Weeda

The "Sidney Bunch"

Home & Such

2011-12-20T08:08:00.003+02:00

So I went to Colorado for 3 special lovely wks...1st wk was in Denver one of my old areas. It's quite something to be going round and realizing and saying things like...well I haven't been here for 9-8-7-6-4 yrs etc. It's quite something to not remember the last time you were at so and so's house, or to be asking bout so and so and find out they died 3 years ago.
Colorado was mostly full of good things, memories, seeing people going on, finishing well, making wise choices. But also some sad things that make your eyes drip and yr throat tighten. Kind of overwhelming when all these different emotions, thoughts and feelings are hitting you at once....day after day, visit after visit. There were 2 different situations in the past few months where I saw someones in mtg/gmtg. Both of these peoples have really been thru the wringer and the mill this year. It made me cry to see them there, because it meant so much that they know where help is.

Another thing that mostly amused me was the people who said things like "so where have you been?" Ohhhh you were gone?! "Well you remember what happened, or what so and so spoke last year at Elizabeth....just to name a few :D Or....so and so married this gal from Switzerland, so what kind of person is she?...Oh you don't know her???? Ohhhhh you were in Sweden not Switzerland...FINLAND?? where is that.
The highlight of all that is knowing that people were thinking of you and praying for you....even if they didn't have the location right.
I've discovered that I don't get tired of talking bout my country, place and people....Just tell me to put a cork in it if you think I'm blah-blahing too much!...cause if you keep asking me questions I'll just keep talking....like putting in a quarter or winding up the music box ya know.

While in Colorado I got 1 night with my cousin and her lil family and her brother came for supper :) It was special to have time with them and to play with the kids, just to be together. Charlee and I watched animals grow in warm water....we ended up with monkey, giraffe, horse, sea horse, fish and a few others. I loved how Caiden would ask us our names so that he could ask us a question or ask us to come see something instead of just calling us "hey you" :D
Enjoyed being with some young ladies who love to sing their hearts out, 1 who really has her head on straight bout life. Surprised to see my cousin at Windsor and then got to spend a night later on where she was with a special family with 2 girls....turns out they are going to come see me next year in Finland!!

Some are dying or are dead or loosing their memories....kind of hard but we love to see what comes out inspite of memory loss...the good bad hard special etc....we'll take it all.

Last night sib#8 came with me to Denver and we hung out today. Got back to Sidney in good time for supper with all 3 Sidney sisters and kids. Home made pizza and Swedish Cake from Ikea for dessert. Love seeing the munchkins...never get tired of the hugs or hearing "Auntie Laura" Kyrie-bug reminds me so much of some of the rest of us. Today she was playing "house" with the daycare kids. Showed me her ring and said look I'm married!! Me: to who?? K: my husband! Me: who's your husband? K: he's away on a very very long trip....He won't be getting back until Feb. :D
Trey showed me his cool car and Kyrie looked at pictures of Lucia...who they learned about in school on Swedish day. Then she wanted to see pix of the King and Queen and family of Sweden. K: He doesn't really look like a king....what is a king supposed to look like?
I've discovered I'm quite fond of GPS. At times I have sensory overload from too many people and too much to see. Some times I want to go hide ;) But really wouldn't trade it for anything.
Did I think to mention that time flies waaaayyyy toooooo fast? 4 of the 10 months are already gone. It's been full, busy etc but I don't feel like I can cram enough into every day.
Tomorrow I'm going to see my newest niece born Dec 16 and my Bro Ryan & sis in law Alishia.
Pictures later

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-29T06:19:00.007+02:00

Read from the end up!!

As you can see no lack of babies to hold here!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2011

and did some more of that there baby holding stuff

We got tired out and needed and nap

Then went one their merry way....

leaving the neighbors agash

And made us all laugh

They spiced up our life

Can you guess who?

When out of the blue came 5 strange visitors....

Twas all quiet and calm...

We waited patiently for our food

Here are 2 of the people who are largely responsible

for all that baby holding going on around here.

Ready to eat

Jeanne's vegetarian Turkey

Fixed up things for lunch

Ate grapes from the snack tray for oh about 20 minutes

Played some more

Baby holding begins at a very young age

in this family

Hung out with the guys

And talked about the ones we have

We dreamed bout babies to come

And put it into practice

And read some books...

probably bout the art of holding babies

And held the baby

We talked to Grandma

And held the baby some more

And held the baby

Gal talk bout fixing food

We had guy talk bout cars/trucks/etc

The weather was perfect and the sandbox

provided all day entertainment

Then we played and wished we were a bit bigger

It was very successful

And got ourselves ready

And held the baby

First we had some breakfast

2011-10-06T06:30:00.002+03:00

Today I saw a sign on the side of the road.....NO PARKING. Funny thing is it was in the worst possible place....right beside a cemetery!!! I mean how stupid is that, all those people parked there and aren't going to move....THEY are going NO WHERE. (incase you didn't know that)

So how can they ezspect other people to not park.

And another thing was inside that cemetery was a house....with BARS on the doors and windows. I know that under taker must be shaking in his shoes that them dead peoples are going to come get him some night for putting them 6 feet under...the Audacity!!

Tomorrow Aug 9th 2011

2011-08-08T15:36:00.002+03:00

I'm leaving........on a jet plane.....i know when I'll be back again...... ;)

Take off from Stockholm, Sweden Arlanda airport 1025 am.

Arrive in Newark around 12 pm.....spend 6 hours there.

Fly to Omaha arriving around 9pm-ish......ANYONE's WELCOME :D

Drive....or rather ride 3 hours to......home!!

YAY

Sept 14 on way to get mom

2011-04-15T00:07:00.001+03:00

https://picasaweb.google.com/ldj251981/Sept14OnWayToGetMom#

Here you can get to all the latest picture albums I've posted from when Mom was here....Enjoy!!

A Favorite Sermon

2010-12-27T20:58:00.000+02:00

"The Sermon of the Peasle Tree"

"Brother'n and sister'n, I's been so took up wid de pastoral duties heah
'mongst de flock and gleanin' in de vineyard of de Lawd, dat I ain't had
time to pre-pare a right theologic sermon wid which to hold foth on to you
today. Derefore, I's jus gwan let de Good Book drap open and wheresoever my
eyes does fall, we'll know dat de Lawd has guided me to dat text fo my
sermon dis Sabbath mornin'.

"And de book has drap open to Two Eye Kings ... and it says dere . 'And,
Moses worshipped De Lawd wid de harp and wid de instument ob seven strings
and wid de .uh . p s a l t r y.' Now, we sees heah dat Moses worshipped De
Lawd wid de harp and wid de instument ob seven strings and wid de . uh .
psal - try . de Peasle Tree! So, my sermon to y'all today is bout de
Peasle Tree!

"Now Moses, he lib on de plantation ob Mr. Pharaoh, down in de Land ob
Egypt, and de Peasle Tree were a tree dat grow up out back ob Moses' house.
One day, de Lawd tell Moses dat He's ready fo Moses to go into Egypt and
save de Chillen of Israel from the wicked Pharaoh. So Moses, he go out to
de Peasle Tree and he finds him a nice straight branch and cuts dat branch
from de Peasle Tree and make him a staff. He take de Peasle Tree staff and
he go walk up de road, to de big house of Mr. Pharaoh.

"Now, Mr. Pharaoh, he lived in a mighty big house . cause he was quality
white folks in dem parts, in dem days. Moses, he walk right up to de big
front door of Mr. Pharaoh's house and he retch up and grab de big brass
knocker and knock on de door. Mr. Pharaoh's houseboy, he come to de door
and says, 'Moses . what you want?' Moses, he say, 'I wants to see Mr.
Pharaoh!'

"De li'l houseboy say, 'Moses! You can' see Mr. Pharaoh! He can' come to
de door now ... it's too early in de morning. He ain't up yet dis morning!'
Moses jus' say, 'You go tell Pharaoh I's here to see him!' De houseboy say,
'Okay, but Mr. Pharaoh ain't gwan be very happy.' Moses say, 'You go tell
him I's here!'

"After a while, Mr. Pharaoh come to de door and say, 'Moses, what you doin'
here? It's still early and I ain't had my brea'fast dis mornin'. Why, I
ain't eben had my mint julep yet! What you want heah?' Moses say,
'Pharaoh, I wants you to let de Chillen of Israel go!'

"Pharaoh say, 'What? What you mean, let de Chillen of Israel go?' Moses
say, 'De Lord done tol' me to tell you to let de Chillen of Israel go.'
Pharaoh say, 'I can' let dem chillen go! Dey has all dere work to do. Why,
de crops need hoein', de cotton needs pickin', de corn needs huskin' . ain't
no way dey can go nowhere! And, didn' I jus' gib 'em Abraham Lincoln
birfday and George Washington's birfday and de Fout' ob July off? Ain't no
way I can gib dem chillen ob yoah'n no more time off!'

"Moses, he don't say nuthin' ... he jus put de Peasle Tree staff down on de
ground, say de magic words tree times, de wind whistle thru de branches ob
de Peasle Tree from East to West and rustle de leaves of de Peasle Tree .
and de Peasle Tree staff turns into a fiery serpent! But, Moses, he
tweren't afeared . he jus retch down and grab aholt ob de tail ob dat fiery
serpent and swing it round his head tree times, trow it on de ground . and
dat snake change back into de Peasle Tree staff. Next, Moses take water be
brung from de river and pour it on de ground and de water turned into blood.

"Pharaoh says, 'Now listen heah Moses, whilst we been talkin' I's been
thinkin' . and dem chillen ob yoah'n does make mighty poor field hands, and
dey is lazy and it costs a lot fo me to feed 'em. I tell you what I'm gonna
do . I'm gonna let 'em go!'

"Moses leave, carryin' de Peasle Tree staff and he go down to de fields and
tell de fo'man, 'Call in all de field hands. Have 'em load up all dere
tings. Den have 'em go and dig up de Peasle Tree . and load it on dat
Studebaker wagon. Hitch up a team of dem Missouri mules to de wagon . and
tie bells and red, white and blue tassels from de mules' hames. We's
leaving de land of Egypt, goin' to de Promised Land'

"And, it was recorded dat de Chillen of Israel marched out of Egypt, wid
high heads and big grins, headed fo de Promised Land. Moses, he led de
procession, marching at de front, and right behind him was de Peasle Tree on
de wagon, wid red and white and blue ribbons tied to de limbs . and a New
Nited States flag flying from de topmost branch!

"When dey reached de Red Sea, de Chillen of Israel went up to Moses and
says, 'Moses! What we gwan do? De sea is wide and de sea is deep . and
dere ain't no ferry and dere ain't no ford! How we gwan get 'cross?' Moses
says, 'Ain't no reason for y'all to fret none ... de Lawd and de Peasle Tree
will get us 'cross.' And Moses says de magic words, and de wind whistle
thru de branches ob de Peasle Tree from East to West and rustle de leaves ob
de Peasle Tree, and de Red Sea opens up . and all de Chillen of Israel
crosses on dry foots!

"And, when de Chillen of Israel gets to de t'other side, dey looks back
cross and what did dey see but de whole host of Pharaoh's armies acommin'
after 'em. And, de Chillen of Israel was sore afeared and dey turns to
Moses and says, 'Moses . what we gwan do? Pharaoh's army is gonna slay us
all!'

"And, Moses says, 'Don' worry, de Lawd and de Peasle Tree gwan save us.'
And Moses says de magic words, and de wind whistle thru de branches ob de
Peasle Tree from West to East and rustle de leaves ob de Peasle Tree, and de
Red Sea closes up and drowns all ob Pharaoh's armies . and de Chillen of
Israel goes free.

"Now, it is recorded dat de Chillen of Israel wandered in de Wilderness fo
forty days and forty nights. It is said dat de Chillen of Israel was
guided by a pillar ob smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. T'weren't
no pillar of smoke ... it was jus de shade from de Peasle Tree. And, it
t'wadn't no pillar of fire ... it was jus de moon shinin' on de leaves of de
Peasle Tree.

"One day, de Chillen of Israel goes to Moses and says, 'Moses! We ain't got
nuthin' to eat! We's hongry!' And Moses, says, 'What you mean, you hongry?
You's got de Peasle Tree -- jus' go out deah and pick you some peasles!'
And, my brother'n and sister'n, it is recorded that de Chillen of Israel
picked forty bushel baskets ob peasles!

"So . verily, verily I say unto you, on dat last great day, when de ol' worl'
gets wropped up like a newspaper and tossed on de fiery flames . and de
sheeps is gathered on de right and de goats is gathered on de left . if you
wants to be on de right and not spend fo'eber in de fires ob Hell . I say
unto you . you better have you a right smart pack ob peasle leaves in yoah
pocket!

"Amen!"

A tongue twister 4 u

2010-12-14T22:29:00.000+02:00

FORTUITOUS FELICITATIONS or,

"The Prodigal Son in the Key of F"

(The following account is best when read out loud.) -

Feeling footloose, fancy free and frisky, a featherbrained fellow forced

his fond father to fork over his farthings. Fast he flew to foreign

fields and frittered his family's fortune, feasting fabulously with

floozies and faithless friends. Flooded with flattery he financed a

full-fledged fling of "funny foam" and fast food.

Fleeced by his fellows in folly, facing famine, and feeling faintly

fuzzy, he found himself in a feed-flinger in a filthy foreign farmyard.

Feeling frail and fairly famished, he feign would have filled his frame

with foraged food from the fodder fragments.

"Phooey," he figured, "my father's flunkies fare far fancier," the

frazzled fugitive fumed feverishly, facing the facts. Finally,

frustrated from failure and filled with foreboding (but following his

feelings) he fled from the filthy foreign farmyard. Faraway, the father

focussed on the fretful familiar form in the field and flew to him and

fondly flung his forearms around the fatigued fugitive. Falling at his

father's feet, the fugitive floundered forlornly, "Father, I have

flunked and fruitlessly forfeited family favour."

Finally, the faithful Father, forbidding and forestalling further

flinching, frantically flagged the flunkies to fetch forth the finest

fatling and fix a feast.

Faithfully, the father's first-born was in a fertile field fixing fences

while father and fugitive were feeling festive. The foreman felt

fantastic as he flashed the fortunate news of a familiar family face

that had forsaken fatal foolishness. Forty-four feet from the farmhouse

the first-born found a farmhand fixing a fatling. Frowning and finding

fault, he found father and fumed, "Floozies and foam from frittered

family funds and you fix a feast following the fugitive's folderol?"

The firstborn's fury flashed by fussing was futile. The frugal

firstborn felt it was fitting to feel "favoured" for his faithfulness

and fidelity to family, father and farm. In foolhardy fashion, he

faulted the father for failing to furnish a fatling and feast for his

friends. His folly was not in feeling fit for feast and fatling for

friends; rather his flaw was in his feeling about the fairness of the

festival for the found fugitive. His fundamental fallacy was in

fixation on favouritism, not forgiveness.

Any focus on feeling "favoured" will fester and friction will force the

faded facade to fall. Frankly, the father felt the frigid firstborn's

frugality of forgiveness was formidable and frightful. But the

father's former faithful fortitude and fearless forbearance to forgive

both fugitive and firstborn flourishes.

The farsighted father figured, "Such fidelity is fine, but what forbids

fervent festivity for the fugitive that is found? Unfurl the flags and

finery, let fun and frolic freely flow. Former failure is forgotten,

folly is forsaken. Forgiveness forms the foundation for future

fortune." Four facets of the father's fathomless fondness for faltering

fugitives are:

1. Forgiveness

2. Forever faithful friendship

3. Fadeless love, and

4. A facility for forgetting flaws.

Fantastic!!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY....Blue & White....not Red White & Blue

2010-12-06T18:25:00.002+02:00

Finland's Independence Day (Finnish: itsenäisyyspäivä, Swedish: självständighetsdag) is a national public holiday held on 6 December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from the Russian empire. The movement for Finland's Independence started after the revolutions in Russia, caused by the disturbances from the defeats of the First World War. This gave an opportunity for Finland to withdraw from Russia. After several disagreements between the non-socialists and the social-democrats about the matter of who should have the power in Finland, the parliament, led by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, finally declared Finland as an independent state, on 6 December 1917.

Independence Day was first celebrated in 1919. However, during the first years of independence, the 6th of December was in some parts of Finland only a minor holiday compared to 16 May, which was the day of celebration for the Whites who prevailed in the Finnish Civil War.[1]
During the early decades of independence, Independence Day was a very solemn occasion marked by patriotic speeches and special Church services. From the 1970s onwards, however, Independence day celebrations have taken on livelier forms, with shops decorating their windows in the blue and white of the Finnish flag, and bakeries producing cakes with blue and white icing. Today, rock stars and entertainers have been accepted as worthy interpreters of Finnish patriotism.
It is traditional for many Finnish families to light two candles in each window of their home in the evening. This custom dates to the 1920s, but even earlier, candles had been placed in windows on the birthday of poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg as a silent protest against perceived Russian oppression. A popular legend has it that two candles were used as a sign to inform young men on their way to Sweden and Germany to become jägers that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians.

Nothing Special

2010-12-06T18:15:00.002+02:00

Ok I can't resist doing this but today I looked at my blog.....don't know why....maybe thought someone had posted on it FOR me. Anyway I have this map that shows where people are from who look at my blog and I was shocked and totally surprised to see that I'd had over 100 views and my map was packed full of stars.....it's been 1-3 the past several months since I've not posted anything...so it made me VERY curious as to why all of a sudden all the visitors??

More than I've ever had in a day........

Torres Novas Portugal

Ankara Turkey

Singapore,

Caloocan Philippines,

Melbourne,

Brisbane,

South Yarra

Austrailia

Hamburg, Germany,

Zurich Switzerland,

Oslo Norway,

Leeds, United Kingdom

Turku, Finland

Kirkkonummi, Finland

Umeo, Sweden

Dunfermline United Kingdom

Millery France,

Ulstrup Denmark,

Warsaw Poland,

Edinburgh United Kingdom

Stockton on tees United Kingdom

Ankara Turkey

Stockholm Sweden

Littleton CO

Santa Rosa CA

Wasilla AK

El Paso TX

Chicago IL

Sudbury ON

Honolulu HI

Gilbert AZ

Los Angeles CA

Morida MEX

Winnipeg CAN

Lincoln NE

Denver CO

Austin TX

Dallas TX

Mandeville LA

Fontana

Aurora IL

El Monte CA

OK City OK

Wayne NJ

Olathe KS

Boise ID

Upland CA

Puebla MEX

Paterson NJ

CALGary AB

Longmont CO

Chicago Heights CO

Roseburg OR

Houstan TX

Cabo Roja Puerta Rico

Grand Island NE

NY NY

Mount Rainier MD

Valentina NE

Scottsdale AZ

Havelock NC

Hartford WI

Creswell OR

Silver Creek GA

Santa Anna CA

Sunnyside NY

Corona CA

Sharon Hill PA

Alexander AR

Mount Vernon OH

Albertsville AL

Merrimac WI

Ok so like I said nothing special....probably terribly boring to most of you

I know who some of these people from some of these places are

Others....well it sure would be interesting to know!

The unfinished story

2010-10-10T21:08:00.000+03:00

Sad Violin

2010-10-07T00:19:00.000+03:00

I loved this song.

The last 3 wks

2010-10-04T23:34:00.003+03:00

If you want to know what I've been doing just go read this blog. :-)

www.lmand12js.blogspot.com

Issues

2010-10-02T23:10:00.002+03:00

Dear Readers.....

We regretfully interrupt these posts to inform you that from now on you will have to register and do a security word check to be able to leave comments on my blog posts...due to the fact that I've had 3 spam comments so far.

I have been able to locate where there comments are coming from and hopefully these measures will resolve this issue.

Now for the rest of the story....back to our program.

My favorite place.....

2010-09-26T16:33:00.000+03:00

To play the Piano

My Big Beautiful Family

2010-09-08T13:10:00.001+03:00

York 2010

There they all are...real as life :-)

Well it's not quiiiiittee as good as seeing them in real life

But we like it anyway!!

clouds&cave

2010-09-02T21:23:00.001+03:00

A treasure found & more

Click on pix to go to album

Just Random but enjoy anyway ;*)

Todays discoverys

2010-08-31T19:52:00.001+03:00

And that Boys and Girls was today's discoverys...

We hope you have enjoyed this nature walk.

Click on link to take the hike

back2finaug10

2010-08-29T20:40:00.001+03:00

Click on pix to go to album

Gotland The End

2010-08-29T20:38:00.001+03:00

Click on pix to go to album

Something unusual

2010-08-21T13:35:00.003+03:00

Los Pilares de la Amistad

Los amigos tienen un lugar especial en mi corazon

Muchas veces he agradecido a Dios por darme tu amistad.

Al practicar la amistad, He aprendido algunas principios,

Como los que señalo a continuacio´n

Memoria:

Aunque hoy nos separe la distancia,

debemos recordar siempre al amigo/a

que en algu´n momento

nos consolo

nos hospedo´

nos animo´

nos amo´

Prudencia:

Debemos respetar el horario de nuestras amigos.

No invadamos su privacidad

Creyendo que el ser amigos nos da derecho

absolutos sobre la vida

Sinceridad:

No hay verdadera amistad sin una confianza plena.

Todo tiene que estar sobre la mesa.

Yo creo en la amistad, A corazo´n abierto

Humilidad:

Necesitamos la humildad para pedir perdo´n

Cada vez que nos equivaguemos

Necesitamos tambien amplitud de corazo´n

para saber perdonar

Generosidad:

En la verdadera amistad no se busca recibir, sino dar

Cuidemos de nustras amistades, no las usemos

Los amigos que se usan, se gastan

pero los amigos bien cuidados

duran muchisimos años!

**I'm very sorry that only those of you who grasp
enough Spanish will be able to understand this
but these words have meant a lot to me.
Some day I might try to put them into English for you
but until then you can just think about
Friendship and what it means to you.**
(if anyone who speaks spanish would like to send me a
good english translation of this I would appreciate it)
laurajelinek20@yahoo.com

right here and now

2010-08-19T19:33:00.001+03:00

Here you are HOT off the press

What we do when we're on the boat and get bored:

Take pix of our COFFEE,

Pix of Christa taking a pic of her food

Take pix of ourselves outside in the wind

Things we see out the window etc etc...

you can figure the rest out....

Landed now and time to go to car

Later, Lj

Stockholm 1st wk after

2010-08-19T13:21:00.001+03:00

Was in Stockholm for 1 wk after our sp days there.

Some visitors were still around and I got in on some sight seeing to Vaxholm.

The above pix is the last night of our days there....

The end ...and the beginning of the year to come

Gotland - 1st and 2nd sight seeing

2010-08-19T13:20:00.001+03:00

Just some more of our days on Gotland

Back in time in Visby

2010-08-13T18:30:00.001+03:00

Computer issues fixed. Click on pix to go to album

Blue daze

2010-08-02T00:33:00.000+03:00

Once again click on the photo to go to the web album

Seeing Red in my wanderings

2010-08-02T00:22:00.000+03:00

I hope this works as I think it will. You should be able to go look at this album - My first attempt at getting back to blogging.

I plan on just putting pix in my web albums and you can look at them. Its a lot faster than trying to decide which ones to actually post on my blog and it takes a fraction of the time to upload them.

Just perhaps

2010-07-31T22:14:00.002+03:00

I am hoping to get back to blogging so this is my first feeble attempt after months of nothingness.

On the 2nd of Aug I will be going with Steph to Gotland where I've never been before to visit 3 elderly ladies whom I have never met. They are all right around 90. We will be there 10 days.

For anyone interested here is a link for pix and also some about Gotland.

http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1C1RNNN_enFI351FI351&q=Gotland+Photos&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=hXVUTIXDBtGHOKDY-J4O&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCMQsAQwAA&biw=1280&bih=707

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland

Welcome back to my world!

My sisters....all 9 of them

2010-03-23T21:14:00.007+02:00

A sister's a sister forever,

A bond that diminishes never,

A friend who is kindly and caring,

A sibling God chooses for sharing.

Few ties as deep and profound

And with so much affection abound

Though some thoughts are seldom expressed

Love endures and survives every test.

Of the constants that rest in the heart,

A sister's a primary part.

She'll always be there when you need her-

You listen, you value, you heed her.

As growth, independence you ponder,

Your feelings grow deeper and fonder;

And life tells you one thing that is true:

A sister's a large part of you.

Jeanne Rae Jelinek Ogden

Jana Beth Jelinek

Lynisha Ruth Jelinek Weeda

Dalayna Marie Jelinek McKnight

Alishia Bleile Jelinek

Relyssa Sharon Jelinek Weeda

Meshayla Rose Jelinek

...yes I know she's sideways - it's supposed to be that way.

Kara Elizabeth Jelinek

Kaela Dawn Jelinek B.

These are my sisters,

my friends,

the ones who know me best -

and love me anyway.

I love you so much!!

Love, LA

Göteborg, Sweden 2009 (Gothenburg)

2010-03-04T20:19:00.004+02:00

Gothenburg Day 1 @ the Sea

It was Meshayla's first time to the Sea - so what do we do?? Throw her in of course.

You can see b4 and after pix of that below.

Then we went searching for mussels so that we could catch us some CRABS.

Since we didn't have any muscles our selves we looked in the water by the Rocks and found some.

Even Meshayla got into the search but turned her head away when she realized she was on candid camera.

There were lots of cool Jelly Fish in the water - I suppose to keep the Jelly Necks company.

You could see the purple veins or whatever on this one.

Then we put our mussels on a cloths pin/string fishing line and started the exciting wait for Crab Bites.

When we got em there was such enthusiasm that it inspired the Crab Dance.

The Jelly Necks posed for your Viewer Enjoyment with "put on grins" on their faces...see how the one's teeth show?? It's fake.

It's a speck, no a shadow, It's a Shayla!

*not much diff in the distance between pix 1 & 2 but oh well.

And then we let our Crabs go

Back then it was SUMMER

2010-03-04T11:00:00.001+02:00

Summer activities:-)

We picked berries, red white and black currants.

Cleaned then, cooked, strained and made juice.

Then we had a Tea Party - Gotta love those little munchkins

Beautiful Colors

Plums & Apples

Junibacken Astrid Lindgrens House Summer 09

2010-03-03T16:23:00.009+02:00

When we were in Stockholm in July Meshayla and I went into town one day and went to the Astrid Lindgren Museum. I have pretty much only read Pippi Longstockings but going thru this place made me want to read some of her other books too....which I haven't yet done. I'm still amazed that I managed to get pictures of this event because both of our camera had low or next to dead batteries that day!

The above was what we saw while listening to a narrative while riding the "train" that goes thru the place. It was so well done!

This area was full of life size or bigger things that the kids climbed on or went into.

MORE OF THE SAME

A bunch of drawings and pictures in the place.

PIPPI'S HOUSE There were 2 little boys climbing on the roof and

some kids were lined up to get on the horse.

Outside there were tons of people and kids waiting in line to get in.

See all the strollers!

The little girl in the yellow dress reminded me of Pippi herself. She fit right in.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ASTRID LINDGREN

Something that always gets my attention - Flowers and Water

During our wait we had entertainment provided by this little girl who we nicknamed MOLLY. I think she must have climbed up on that rock 20 times and jumped off.

Just some views on the way there. Can hardly believe it was so green and warm then, now that everything is covered in snow!

A BIG THANK YOU

2010-03-02T23:13:00.002+02:00

*DISCLAIMER

This is simply a post to say THANKS to everyone who commented on my 100th post and all the other ones too! There aren't any pix on this post.*

First of all a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who tried to help me get 100 comments on my 100th blog post. That was a fun idea....MOM

I got about 61 comments - and some on some previous posts too. That's the most I've ever gotten on a single post...the record before was 16 and I noticed that before it took atleast 25 posts before I got 100 comments.

By the way Mom it's about time you noticed that I smile just like Dad. I've done it all my life UNLESS under extreme pressure to open my mouth - which never feels normal! Somehow I always feel like a horse or something when I try that (smiling showing my teeth)

To my dear Auntie Key yes it has been a LONG time since you saw me cause I'm rotten at posting pix of myself. I got your DARLING card and look at it all the time. I'll write soon!

@ Nish - well I feel honored that you would put a pix of me on your piano - hope it doesn't disturb anyone's playing. ;-)
Landon, I'm great and thanks for posting! I don't know if I'll get 100 comments but anyway you all tried:-)

Uncle Patrick, I miss you too! I don't know about looking younger but I don't really care or think about that too much. (I love birthdays!!)

Lanae I always enjoy seeing the pix you post on FB! I love your little family and can't wait to see you again.

@ Layna: Yeah reading your comments make me miss you too. SOMEDAY!! And it'll be so fun to see the babies. UGGH! I need to get baby monsters blanket done!!

Weston I miss you alot too and can't wait for one of your special BEAR HUGS!

Reeses you need to be doing this too! I want to see where you live and what you're doing. Yeah that Baby Monster post was the best. Love you more than dill pickles!!

Thanks Joni, It is a lot of fun blogging when I actually get around to it.

Hej JAX!! I will hug you too. How did your Perfect pot roast turn out?? I bet it was really good! Love Laura cousin

Thanks for coming by Candy! Yes the comments are part of the fun and it's annoying when you see by the map that SO many people have stopped by but not said anything. Hugs to you too.

Hi Anita! I hope we get to meet too but you're right it doesn't look like it this summer.

Dear Kit-Kat I LOVE YOUR LETTERS! I think it's SO neat that you play Cello! I'm going to send you some music for your and Kara, then we can all make music together when I get back.

Heather How neat that you got to come visit Katie! I'm sure you 2 had tons of fun!

Christa yes our group is special because it accommodates all levels of playing and still sounds great!

Lenetta, well if you hang around with my family and Aunts then we'll probably get to meet some time. Thanks for the comment!

Aunt Lori and family thanks for sharing on your blog too. Love seeing pix and reading what is going on. Hopefully see you in person b4 2 long!! Carlin and Kyle you'll have to join the Jelinek/Keough music fest that we are going to have!

Debelak Discourse I think I aught to know you or that I've heard of you for some reason. Are you by any chance in WI?

Mimi /Susan Yeah can you imagine that I've reached 100 and still look so young! ;-)

Judy I enjoy reading your comments on FB and seeing pix of everyone too. Good memories from Cronkville!

Welcome Heather, Ben and Kids. Funny how blogging brings people together:-)

Mj I would love to hear your playing too. I love music and Shirley we could get your daughter to join in if she cleaned her room so she could get new strings!

Lorna Thanks for your letter not long ago!! Am really enjoying being over here with Gram. Love to you.

Sharon It would be fun to have a copy of the taped music! We'll have to have more music one of these days.

Joyce, I'm trying to place your son. Is his name Scott??

Shelly I guess I need to laugh more either that or there needs to be a person on hand with a camera...or better yet a person hidden with a camera to catch it.

FROM TX TO ME...Yep you were #32! Thank you and I plan to keep up the violin...good relaxation.

Miss you too Juli! and Irma, yes in these particular pix the decor does look stark and bare but maybe cause it's just a student dorm?

Ruth THAT'S RIGHT!! We did have a nice time there at Hunter! You know Janine and I played our violins one time in the ladies restroom b4 convention because we didn't want to disturb anyone. It was a cement little building and had great acoustics!

Darlene, Of course I remember you. Thanks for taking care of Jana sister:-)

Jeanne: I'd actually forgotten that we played in the band parade on that wagon. Hahaha...was fun. Love to you Floyd and Little Bit! HUGS!!

Ivy! Great hearing from you!

Trude, yes it was time for a break! It's been great being here and getting in on all the activity. Really inspires a person!

Thanks Jamie and I enjoy seeing your pix of the kids and glad that they are doing well! Love you and take care!

Darcie, I love my family too! They are the best!

Lorinda thanks for the compliment and the comment! :-) Hope it's going well for you over there!

DEAR PB N BOG! I miss you lots! Hugs, Love Pb N Bog!

Heather W. Thank you, I miss your blog posts! What happened there?

JKLMNOP...Well anytime I'm over on that side of the puddle we'll have to set up some music time. I would love that:-)

Twila, Thanks for adding to the fun.

Jeanette, Thank for "doing your part" and I think that Vegetarians probably do eat ANIMAL CRACKERS...in their rooms with the doors locked hiding under their beds. ;-)

Tallinn #1

2010-03-02T18:12:00.007+02:00

Hello Everyone

Right now I'm on Vacation from Finnish school for 1 week. So I got to go see my Grandma Cilla who is in Tallinn Estonia until the 13th of April. Sorry I would have pix of the first part of my trip but my camera wasn't working till the morning after I got here.

There is tons of snow here but it's warmer than I've had it in Vaasa for over 2 months so that's nice. The snow is starting to melt so we're glad for our boots because there is slush everywhere! Today we went on the bus several hours for english/bible lessons.

Looking into the town square.

I guess the GIANT's feet got too warm and so he left his shoes behind.

One of the bridges in town that we saw

on our walk to lessons from the bus station.

Feed the birds...Some crows were also enjoying

the bread that people were throwing to the ducks.

Some pigeons in another place. I once was trying to protect some birds...(they'd build their nest in the wrong spot) and I told the brother that God's eye is on the sparrow so be nice to the birds. His answer? "Good then He won't notice what happens to these Robins" groan!!

What happens when Gram isn't looking.

Grandma Cilla getting the good food she'd fixed us on the table.

Our little b4 lessons tea party in the dungeon cafe today.

Ooopppss forgot the flash.

That's me on the bridge:-P Might have to zoom in to see it.

It was snowing wet snow.

This is a previous post on TALLINN from Dec 2008 if you'd like to see more pictures

http://jelly3.blogspot.com/2008/01/vaasa-helsinki-and-tallin-travels.html

#100

2010-02-24T23:28:00.004+02:00

Since everyone wants current pictures of me "Here you finally go"

Sorry they're not so great

You all know how I "cherish" having my photo taken

and it doesn't get any better than this at 11pm with AUTO TAKE

and nothing behind the camera to help me look (snicker) "real".

Ps I noticed that this is my 100th blog post.

A whole lot of nothing....

PERHAPS I'll get 100 comments.

Well one never does know!

Violin Music by me to you

2010-02-22T09:23:00.005+02:00

When I was 11 in the Summer of 92 my sisters Jeanne, Jana, Lynisha and I attended a summer orchestra group at the junior highschool. I think it was about 6 wks long? Jeanne played the violin and I had always wanted to learn to play it. So Lynisha and I played violin, Jana played viola and Jeanne played cello. Then I never played much for quite a few years until 2000 when I found a violin in the newpaper for sale. It had only been used one year by a 5th grade student and was quite cheep. I went to check it out and it had a good sound and "fit" right so I bought it and went home to my apartment and started terrorizing the neighbors with my music. (Actually I never had any comments whatsoever about my music) Through the years I played now and then but it's kind of boring to play by yourself and when you can only play songs that have 1# or 2#'s it's kind of annoying to have to ask whoever is playing the piano to "only" play those songs. Hence I have never become a very good violinist. Now one of my classes is 30mins of violin a wk and for the first time I'm getting individual lessons! (Works much better than 30 kids under the ages of?? trying to learn in a group!) Several wks ago my teacher told me about an orchestra here in Vaasa that meets every other Tues eve. It is for all levels and is called Orchestra for all. There are quite a few different instruments in our group. Violins, flutes, accordians, a zither, piano and Bass (that great big huge stringed thing)

The following are our songs that we play in the group or that I have learned in my lessons, recorded for you...downloaded onto my computer and then videoed with the camera so that I can upload them onto the blog. You'll get tired of seeing my violin and sometimes there is some rustling noises but hope you enjoy the music! Some are folk songs others Psalms and some just regular violin learning material.

Å vad dä du.

Bred dina vida vingar.

Båklandets vackra Maja

Här en källa rinner. In the music for this song there is BASS so I added it in for effect with Allegro.

Hör min sång Violetta (Hear my song Violet)

Lätt visa

Liten Gavott

Lova Gud i Himmelshöjd

May Song

O come little children

O vad sällhet då skall bliva

Snöflingor, Dimman, Vinden, Månen (Snowflakes, Fog, Wind, Moon) As you will see this song is actually 4 different songs that can be played together at the same time. By themselves they sound so simple but splendid when played together. I played one and then played it on the computer while recording another one at the same time until I had all 4 in one piece.

Sommar Sommar (Tune O bring back my Bonnie to me)

Song of the wind

Sov lilla fågel (Sleep little bird)

Tanja (Russian folk song)

Where I hang my housecoat??

2010-02-18T22:07:00.009+02:00

Hi all you poor people that keep checking my blog to see if I've posted....just to find that I haven't! Sorry....I've also taken to looking at my blog as I think it's interesting to see all the countries represented....the were eight one day! and I also like to check to see if my blog is posting on it's own....HA!

Welcome to where I hang my house coat! Hope you enjoy your virtual visit! Please sign your name and let me know you were here. I moved into this room at the school dorm in Vaasa on the 18th of Jan and finally a month later I am having OPEN HOUSE (IE) I am posting pix of where I live.

The building in which I live. I am on the 2nd floor but my room is at the back of the bldg and my window is at ground level.

My rooms view from the window

Rooms view from the door

The entrance to the school where I spend my time learning Finnish Mon-Fri usually 830 AM - 3 or 5PM

The library/computer room located on the main floor of the dorm.

"Pingis" Ping Pong/Gym room

Our "without spot or wrinkle room"

When someone moves in to a new place here they might get flowers or something so here are some of the flowers and other things I got to welcome me (Also some things like chocolate for friends day)...which would be Valentines Day to most of you.

Note that the pink one furthest from the window is amazing! This was the day I got it...a Friday and I went away for the wknd, came back on Sun eve and it looked DEAD as can be! The flowers were all bent over and the leaves droopy and wilted:(

I hadn't thought to water it b4 leaving! So I quick ran water over it and then sat it in a bowl of water and 2 hours later it looked just like this again!

My tea cup from my teacher.....I'll never be without a tea bag as there is one painted on the cup. ;-)

The nice shiny clean bathroom. I love the color blue so it's just right for me and the hot water never seems to run out!

The view from the inside balcony on our level. Main floor sitting room. There is a game cupboard with games and puzzles in it. Haven't ever seen anyone use them. There are also newspapers and magazines to read.

The balcony in our kitchen.

I share a kitchen with 3 other rooms and the girls that live there are all from here in Finland. They go to a different school. I rarely use the kitchen as I eat my main meal of the day in school. NO OVEN....hence the story of making chocolate chip cookies in the skillet...but it WORKS!

Thru the door there is the entryway to my room and another girls room....her bathroom door is straight ahead.

In the entry way facing my room...you can see my bathroom door there

Hope you've enjoyed your visit....please come again!

A patch work afghan

2009-12-01T22:28:00.008+02:00

I've got a little project going on here. I'm making a baby afghan for Baby Monster who arrived this morning at 12:30 AM. if you wonder who the referred to Baby Monster is see the previous post

I love how that pix says "sample" like this is a sample of what BABY MONSTER could look like.

Baby Monster was born at home. I think maybe Dalayna and Wade may have been worried about the hospital calling parent protection services had he been born in the hospital. Baby Monster weighs 7# 10oz....kind of small for a monster but he will grow. He is 20 1/4 inches long....we haven't called him baby monster for nothing.

Speaking of what we call him, he hasn't any name yet because -- well when you don't know what he's going to look like since you've never b4 had a baby monster --- lets just say that deep down inside D & W have grown very fond - perhaps too fond of the name baby monster and they can't imagine him as anything else. So for the time being, "baby monster" he is. I sure hope the poor dear doesn't get a complex.

Oh excuse me I've gotten totally side tracked. I was supposed to be telling you about this afghan I'm making. I learned to crochet in 2003 and it was like getting a chronic cough, (yes that is a picture of your bronchial s with a chronic cough.

like being bitten by a bug.

You just can't stop.

It's like LAYS chips, you can't eat just one.

I love to crochet and have made atleast 16?? afghans. The one that took the shortest amount of time was Jessi Bear's

(pictured below)

(1 night and a half day) right b4 the baby shower.

I usually use a diamond pattern

or Indian Blanket as it's some times referred to. (Pix a blanket w/feathers sticking out of it. Hear the drums beating??

Or I just use a double crochet stitch - those go the fastest.

Because of the nature of this baby - him being a baby monster and all, I decided to try something different for a change.pıɟɟǝɹǝuʇ Something I have never tried before and don't really have the slightest idea how to do. This differentTNEREFFID baby afghan will match this "different baby" and just like Dalayna and Wade have never b4 had a baby monster I have never before made a patch work afghan.

Some people refer to these as Granny Squares. I wonder why that is? Could it be that most people who crochet are grannies?

because some grannies are square or what. I just like to picture this cozy little scene of a square little old lady sitting in her rocker out on the front porch

with her glasses down on the end of her nose,

crocheting away on dozens of little squares.

Some would call it madness ---

---- I call it relaxation ----

Here is what BABY MONSTER really looks like and here are a few of the many squares in His blanket.

Happy First day of life out of your cozy cocoon BABY MONSTER. Auntie La is quite smitten, bitten, taken, amazed with you......in case you couldn't tell.

A baby

2009-11-29T21:07:00.006+02:00

You probably all know my family - Yes, yes the one with 12 kids. You probably have heard that we are a little strange, different etc -You choose the words.

Well if this is the way you feel I would like to solidify and confirm your thoughts....

My sister

(you might want to sit down)

.....bet you can't top this one......

Is going to have a baby. Yes that's right folks - a baby

BUT not only that, She's going to have.....A baby monster!!

(If you didn't think we were weird before you will know it now.)

I wonder what he'll look like?

Will he have horns? a tail? pointy ears and hooves?

Perhaps she'll have to make adjustments to all his clothes?

Will they be able to keep enough food in the house?

For all I know he may need a different kind of stroller and car seat.

What if he doesn't fit in the car and he out grows the house?

I mean there are laws about leaving your child outside

but I bet they never took a baby monster into consideration

when they made those laws

How will she ever get child care?

Drs. will not know what to dothey won't be able to rely on their

Dr. Sprocks baby book for this one

Perhaps they won't be able to find a baby sitter;

most people don't relish the thought of getting their fingers bit off.

I wonder if my sister has thought of the safety of her other child Jessi Bear?

Look at those spikes! Hope the furniture holds up okay

He sure looks innocent enough but I do wonder

exactly how long and sharp are those teeth going to get?

All fears and questions aside

We love you anyway

Baby Monster!!

Welcome to the family

You'll fit right in.

Happy Thanksgiving From Finland

2009-11-26T19:01:00.004+02:00

Here is it folks!

Our lovely stress-free

deliciously scrumptious simple

but fantastic, thanks to my co-worker

THANKSGIVING DINNER!!

MMMMM MMMM MMM

It sure was good

Thinking of you all

Love, Laura

***

Recall Notice

2009-11-24T08:02:00.001+02:00

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototpye units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality", more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some symptoms include:
1) Loss of Direction
2) Foul vocal emissions
3) Amnesia of origin
4) Lack of Peace and Joy
5) Selfish or violent behavior
6) Depression or confusion in the mental component
7) Fearfulness
8) Idolatry
9) Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1) love
2) Joy
3) Peace
4) Patience
5) Kindness
6) Goodness
7) Faithfulness
8) Gentleness
9) Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E (Believer's Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

*WARNING*: Continuing to operate the human unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.

*DANGER*: The human units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent containmination of that facility.

Thank you for your attention. GOD

PS Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by "kneemail".

Here we go, up a row....

2009-11-02T21:58:00.002+02:00

TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY!

I love the look of sheer joy on Leea's face when she opened her presents, when she made a wish blew out the candle and then smiled. We had a lovely time, played the go fishing game and ended up with candy on the line instead of fish:-) Our friend Gordon went fishing and caught a pair of nylons when he displayed for us by putting them over his head. (He has been properly educated in the many uses of nylons we could tell) We also played this game where you try to pop a balloon by hugging someone else. Leea was dressed in her favorite princess dress and looked the part.

Shayla-chip week 1 & 2

2009-11-02T20:43:00.005+02:00

We spent our 1st 2 wks with this dog and these 2 little munchkins. Here are some of the things we did. Went down to the beach house and colored and played in the sand. The dog enjoyed the water, we threw sticks for him and then ran away so he wouldn't spray us when he shook.

Played games, had a pancake, went for walks, swang on the swings, climbed trees, played on the seesaw, took many pictures of flowers!! Went to look at the Replot bridge, had a sauna and walked around town looking at things and drew pictures.

My 2 wks in Summer Finnish School

2009-11-01T20:09:00.005+02:00

HA! No I mean Finnish school NOT "Finishing School" And by the way I never did that......I was a 3rd grade dropout. (Well not really but it sounds good (or rather awful) doesn't it??!

I took a 2 week Finnish class Mon - Fri 4pm to 9pm and at the same time Meshayla took Swedish. It was an intense class, I didn't learn much cause it went so fast. Shayla learned quite a bit. The last day of school we took a walk around town and these were some of the sights. We also got a tour of the Russian Orthadox Church! It is a magnificent bldg. They have no seats inside just benches around the edges for old people and children....everyone else stands and their services can be up to 3 hours!! WHEW

Some of the students in my class...teacher is on the right back row. My good friend Menju from Nepal.

I can't believe it actually happened!!!

2009-11-01T20:08:00.001+02:00

BUT IT DID! MY SISTER CAME TO VISIT!

We took the ferry from Stockholm May 29th to Turku Finland

and then drove up to Vaasa where we stayed until the 2nd wk in July.

Some pictures of our ferry trip including our cabin and a very interesting looking food item

which by the way was scrumptious!

Last Winter

2009-11-01T18:56:00.004+02:00

A cold walk through town then a cozy little tea party.

Making JELL-O mmm yummy and it matched Lola's dress and the plant so well.

Love my 2 little helpers

Almira loves her jump seat. We went to the out door skating rink. They have these looonnngg skates here in Scandinavia. They seem to be more the size of skis...well not quite that long. But we didn't try them anyhow. You could choose 1, 3, or 5 Km. We just took turns going around the circle using one pair of skates. Steph and I got to borrow some skates later and enjoyed the skating rink on Åland. They have both outdoor and indoor and it is free!

This is innebandy....maybe like hockey on foot? We went to watch the goalie. He's quite good. I have a camera video of this but they never want to upload for me. (Also have a good for laughs one of the baby hopping)

Stay tuned for more backlogged blog posts!

Meshayla's great escape

2009-10-31T19:03:00.005+02:00

FROM THE ZOO THAT IS!

I love her facial expressions. Though I think her acting might have gotten to her head!

What do you mean to tell me the world is round and the moon is not made out of green cheese?? How can this be??

Hehe...I learned this imitation from my time of incarceration at the zoo.

This man must have a severe case of rigor mortise

¿¿ɐʎ əɹɐ ʍoɥ ɐɔıɹəɯɐ ƃuıuɹoɯ pooƃ˙

uʍop əpısdn sı ɹədɐdsʍəu əlqısıʌuı ɹəɥ ʇɐɥʇ ʍouʞ ʇ,usəop əɥs

What was I thinking?,...Was I thinking?

HA the media these days. A person just can't believe anything anymore.

YEP shore nuf boys and girls....and THAT is how the west was won.

You just can't see the person I have my arm around.

Things sure have changed since I was alive. Who would have thunk it?

I just wanna be like you.

Hello I'm Honest Abe, and to be quite honest with you this arm chair's arms are too high

and it's quite uncomfortable.

What do you mean "I've been replaced?? "

It's not what you think

2009-08-28T16:04:00.002+03:00

Hi Everyone,
Well just about the time I was actually looking forward to writing and posting more posts for my blog my computer went on the blink. NO it hasn't crashed!! (THANKS GOODNESS) but I have a short in my computer cord or something like that so it would be fine and all that but then something would go wrong and the battery light would come on and I'd try to wiggle around the cord and get it to work again or stand it up on end and sometimes that would work and it would get charge again but for several days now I haven't been able to coax it back to like no matter what I do....and there aren't any stores around here that sell ONLY computer cords and no one where I am has a cord that fits that I could borrow........HENCE my sad lack of pictures and posts.
AND one finds out how much you rely on your WORKING computer, how much you really use it for! Another thing that has been hindered because of this is the typing and printing out of my convention notes....gggrrrr
SO if you think that I am anti-social or that I have forgotten you, or that I have dropped off the face of the planet it's not what you think:-) It's just that I'm totally handicapt!

I might as well take this time, while on this computer I'm borrowing to tell you what is going on for us right now.
I'm in Finnish language school taking classes for both Finnish 1 & 2. Mon - Fri for about 4 hours a day. Let me tell you folks I know know, remember and experience the meaning of TIRED again....brain tired, and it's waaayyy more so than when I was in Swedish school. That lasted a few wks then once I got into it, it wasn't so taxing. We'll see how this will go....if it will level off or stay the way it is now. (I've only had 2 wks of school)
I don't understand so very much of Finnish 2 but I'm really glad for Mavis' help with all that homework!! Finnish 1 goes well and as I learn more in it I'll understand more of Finnish 2 I think.

We also just found a batch to live in that is closer to town so will be moving into it this next week.

Please write me email if you can laurajelinek20@yahoo.com I will be thrilled to get them when I can once again use my computer.
Sorry I can't put any pictures on here as they are all.... well......you know....on the computer!

Just for laughs

2009-08-12T18:46:00.002+03:00

A man walking down the street in the US wearing a vest, pants and suspenders, in Britain would be a man walking down the street wearing a waist coat, trousers and braces.

If you told a Brit that there was a man walking down the street wearing a vest, pants and suspenders this is what they would picture... A man wearing an undershirt, underware and a garter belt.

To Brits a vest is: an undershirt
pants: underware
suspenders: garter belt

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE??

On the other hand if they told us that there was a man walking down the street wearing a waistcoat, trousers and braces we would think WOW he's really dressed up!! and I wonder what the problem is that he needs to have braces. Are they on his legs or on his teeth??

MESHAYLA can you draw me a picture for this and send it on email??

Happy Birthday to my MOM!!!

2009-06-30T13:50:00.003+03:00

Happy Birthday to my dear Mum. I love you berry berry much. Hope you have a very special day and a great year. If I was there (or you were here) I'd take you out to celebrate;-) NOW wouldn't that be fun! Here are some flowers for you and some poems or quotes I liked.
Love and Hugs, Laura

A mother should give her children a superabundance of enthusiasm, that after they have lost all they are sure to lose in mixing with the world, enough may still remain to prompt and support them through great actions.
Julius C. Hare Quotes

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
Tenneva Jordan Quotes

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell
"MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.

2009-06-19T23:17:00.002+03:00

Okay okay I really am going to blog some more.......i just get so behind and then it seems like such a big job to get it done.
Somethings I want to blog about:
Pix of Shay and I, things we've done while she's here. Our boat ride, time at Anne's, visit to the bridge, preps; making cookies, painting, new clothes etc
Finnish Class
Preps
AND tomorrow is MidSommar so we're going to take a pix out side tonight to show you how it looks when it is the longest day and shortest night of the year.....(no night at all)
We will be playing games and eating outside we hope...right now it's raining.
We had work day today (Fri)

Stay looney tuned. :-P

Because it's so entertaining!

2009-06-11T23:16:00.002+03:00

Here is my sister Meshayla's blog address. www.Shay-Stuff.blogspot.com
She is here to visit me for 2 months. Meshayla keeps a "journal thingy" and you need to read this cause it's funny. ENJOY (start from the first post and read them all)

Can't believe it actually happened!

2009-06-04T23:54:00.006+03:00

BUT IT DID! MY SISTER CAME TO VISIT!

We took the ferry from Stockholm May 29th to Turku Finland

and then drove up to Vaasa where we stayed until the 2nd wk in July.

Some pictures of our ferry trip including our cabin and a very interesting looking food item

which by the way was scrumptious!

Contains grafic pictures not for the weak stomached! The Faeroe Islands May 18 - 26th 2009

2009-06-01T22:01:00.012+03:00

This wasn't at all how I intended to post my pix from the Faeroe Islands but I got behind and have SOOO many pictures I didn't know WHAT to do. It was SUCH an awesome trip. I will write more about it too...not just pictures.

These first ones are from a whale hunt I guess you could call it. They are PILOT whales.
Whaling is a very old tradition on the islands. They use the meat and blubber for food and other purposes. Have you ever read of women with whale bone corsets?? I saw a HUGE whale bone. I think I even got a picture of it...I'll have to find that!

Picture # 1 & 2 is from the magazine on the airplane. (taken a number of years ago) the next 6 pictures are from the news paper, taken the same day we saw the whales that had been slaughtered. They were taken b4 we got there...too bad, cause all we got to see was the slaughtered whales! The first picture after the red sea is actually a dolphin I think.

This occasion is very big - many of the villagers come to help bring the whales in etc. Around 500 hundred people helped at this one. They got 188 Whales and haven't had a catch like this in 5 years. Unfortunately whaling is dying off and some people are trying to do away with it because they say that the whales are too polluted with mercury and such things to be eating. (I didn't hear ONE word about ANIMAL RIGHTS) like we would in some other places.

NOW IF YOU CAN MANAGE PLEASE SCROLL DOWN BELOW AND I'LL EXPLAIN THE OTHER PIX.

PICTURES FROM A FAEROESE MUSEUM (COLLAGE SO CLICK TO ENLARGE) notice especially the 3rd pix down on the right side cause I think it's cool

TUNNEL PICTURE COLLAGE, CLICK TO ENLARGE These tunnels go thru mountain and under water. Makes traveling much easier for these folks other wise they were walking over mountains and depending on boats. There are several 1 lane tunnels and the car on one side has the right away, every several 100 meters or so there is a place for the other car to pull over and yeild....you just have to watch for the oncoming headlights.

FLOWERS ON THE ISLANDS...that I saw and thought to take a pictures of...there were a few more I think but somehow I didn't record them. Some of these are flowers and some are bushes.

CHURCHES, HOUSES, VILLAGES, BUILDINGS (notice the 2 little play houses in the 2nd row on the right side!, the green/blue one was a miniture of a big one) There are a lot of black houses and alot of green grass roofs.

RIVERS, STREAMS, WATER FALLS, My feet! LOL The Faeroe islands are dripping and dropping all over the place. Where ever you look there is water running. We saw one of these on our way walking one day to conv and saw it the next day right after it had rained. We didn't think it had a rained THAT much but the water fall was absolutly roaring with water! It was cool!

MORE TO BE ADDED BUT THOUGHT I'D BETTER GET THESE ON HERE B4 GOING ON TO THE NEXT THING

# 8 of ?? The quickly planned long await visit

2009-05-29T17:48:00.003+03:00

YAY Shay is finally here. Like we would say in swedish,...."Duktig Flicka!" It just means a job well done (more or less)

Here are some of the places I saw on the map that they flew under.
Omaha Dem Cedar rapids Joliet Chicago heights, Chicago, North platte Holdredge Benkleman Davenport Meadville

ABOVE peoria ft wayne toledo kendalville bryan Lorain cleveland

Through Allegheny national forrest

They were going approx 550 mph (899 kph) 35'000 ft (10'688 meters) most of the time on the flight from Denver.

Airbus A319

Malaysia Airlines

To the right of New York Mt vernon Stamford

left of bridgeport

MH 91 Positional Information

Flight:	MH 91 - Malaysia Airline
Equipment:	Boeing 777-200/200ER Passenger
Equipment:
Latitude:	58-12-00.0 N
Longitude:	60-34-12.0 W
Speed:	564 mph (907 kph)
Altitude:	39,000 feet (11,887 meters)
Bearing:	53
To ARN:	2,633 miles (4,238 km)
From EWR:	1,349 miles (2,171 km)

The last spot I saw her airplane tracked (they can't do it so far over the ocean) was about 1/8th of the way over the ocean off the coast of Newfoundland.

I loved the flight tracking thing. It was neat to have cause since I couldn't really sleep so much anyway it was fun to keep track of where she was.

Many more pix to follow - we take to boat tonight to Finland

The perfect "I want a cat tale"

2009-05-26T09:49:00.002+03:00

A little girl wanted a cat very badly and she asked her mother for one many many times. Mommy had older children and knew that the kitten would be a thrill the first month but that then it wouldn't get much care. So she continued to say no.

But "little girl" kept asking and pleading. Finally mommy got a little tired of this and so she told little girl, "If God gives you a kitten you can keep it".

So the little girl (very intent on getting a kitten) knelt down in the yard right then and there and prayed for a one. You would have appreciated the mothers great surprise when a little white kitten dropped down from heaven about a meter in front of the little girl before Mommy even made it into the house. (Little girl wasn't even through praying yet)

Since there were no trees in their yard they couldn't imagine where Kitten had come from, but that didn't matter to little girl, she's received her kitten from God that her Mommy said she could keep.

It wasn't until later that they found out how that kitten came to them, dropping down out of nowhere like it did.

There was a neighbor man who had this little kitten and one day (the same hour that Little girl was praying) it climbed a tree, which it had done b4.
Neighbor man couldn't reach up that high, or climb and he was growing weary of retrieving "Kitten" so this time he tied a rope to the branch of a tree climbed down and tied the other end to his vehicle, got in to drive it a little forward thinking that if he did it would bring the branch down lower to the ground so that he could reach Kitten or Kitten could just jump down it's self.

But as you can imagine something happened and "Kitten" got catapulted into "Little girls's yard, right in front of her, while she was still praying to God to receive a kitten.

The neighbor of course let her keep the kitten that God had given her :-)
(This is a true story)

Arild Hike & Train ride to Denmark

2009-05-22T17:47:00.009+03:00

So ofcourse when I saw Starbucks in the airport in Copenhagen I had to take a pix even though I did not go there and get anything! 2-3: 2 trains I saw while on the train. 4: Seats on the train (there was a little table infront of mine) 5,6,7,8 one of the towns I went thru, farm land, another town and the railway tracks. I'd never been on a long distance train here b4, just the intercity train in Stockholm.

The little cafe where we ate on our way home from the hike

Underside of the thatched roof looking up

Pix of the ends of the thatch, looks like straws

Thatched roof from the top side

Coffee, Meatball sandwich with pickles (mind you everything was home made!! (coffee was hand ground) :-) MMMMM!

Blossoms out back of the cafe

The back side of the cafe

Another view

An old cottage (I like the blue door)

Andy & I thought this looked like the world's end...like it just drops off into nothing. I don't know if you can see the curve in the pix so well but it was cool in reality.

A Garden and Barn

Old well

The way over and through the fences here

Thought this tree was cool...totally dead except for the living ivy growing on top.

This is Andy's seat that she is one day going to sneak with her out of the forest when it becomes loose. If the wild life preservation people catch her she'll just say that it's her chair from home cause you know you might get tired when you go walking up the mountain!

All the green here is Blueberries!! WOW just wait till they are ripe!

A little entrance into the cubby hole

View from the top

Going up the hill (actually very steep)

Thought this looked pretty Nebraska and quite rest full with the cows laying there.

The beginning of our path

5, 6 & 7 of ??

2009-05-22T03:16:00.004+03:00

The colors here were amazing!

On a hike up in the hills, in a makeshift forest standing in the stream

Up on top (one of our climbs) You can see how windy it was. The one time I've been extremely glad for my coat!

Okay I admit it.....one of these IS just my feet...but it's still a pix of me so it must count!
And standing in that stream did feel mighty good!

Arild "A lovely stay"

2009-05-22T01:09:00.009+03:00

Hello! I am on my way to the Faeroe Islands. May 15th I flew out of Stockholm down to Ängelholm and stayed with Gordon & Andy and family. Was over at Gordon's parents place and got some great photos and then on Sat. Andy and I took a wonderful hike up the "mountain". Sunday afternoon I took the train over to Denmark (through the tunnel that goes under water) to Copenhagen and to the airport, where I awaited my flight to the Faeroe Islands. (That will have to be another post!)
Flying down to Southern Sweden was quite the experience in it's self.

I had been on the Åland islands for 3 wks and when I took the boat to Stockholm I could hardly believe how green it was there. Real Spring! There were leaves on the trees and such.
(You can tell Åland was a bit behind in all this!!) But down in southern Sweden it was FULL SUMMER! Everything was in full bloom. Truely lovely! And then there was water (which I am quite fond of) to look at and a more Dansk style of houses with thatched roofs.

* Next post......"Our hike" (as usual my pix have to be looked at from the bottom to top) In the woods

The woods

The grounds keepers cottage I guess you might say

The castle where Gordon's parents live

100 yr old grape vine

This flat stone used to have a table top on it and was a picnic area

The lilacs smelled lovely and reminded me of home

Thought this pix turned out great!!

The clouds looking up

Canola fields from the air

The clouds looking down

May Birthdays ETC!

2009-05-17T10:33:00.005+03:00

May 12th Happy Ann, Aunt Cyndie & Uncle Dan

17 Yrs Tyler May 1st

28 Yrs Floyd Ogden May 5th

23 Yrs Emily May 11th

Auntie Gay Keough May 12th

Dominic (is he already 3??) May 16th...I think

25 yrs Derek May 14th

Me 28 yrs May 19th...yes I loved the mud!

23 yrs Dalayna McKnight May 24th

11 yrs Timothy Herndon May 25th

9yrs Jim & Lynisha Weeda May 26th

Please let me know if I forgot any family members! Lots of Love and Hugs and good wishes to all you May Birthdays and Anniversary's

3 & 4 of 52 construction & a visit from Jane & Company

2009-05-08T21:26:00.006+03:00

Somebody took me shopping today and I got a new jean skirt...very nice since my old old very old one is falling off me and a belt doesn't even help.
I also got this new sweater shirt...has a hood...very comfy! Happens to match a skirt I got last year! (you can't really see the green leaves in the skirt in this pix) YAY for the auto setting on cameras by the way!! It was fun finding little branches to balance my camera on...push the button and run to try and get into place! Still don't like having my pix taken...:-P

The street in front of the library has been all torn up now for awhile. They're putting in an underground parking garage. Today they starting laying on the "roof" to the garage. (See above pix) Maybe in a few wks they'll put the street back??
When Jane and her twins (niece and nephew) and mom were here for a day!
Riding the sheep
Riding the carousel

Me with Julia and Victor...in my favorite wrap around skirt that I bought from the 2nd hand store.
Auntie talking with the kids b4 bed.

# 2 of 52?? and a lovely Spring day

2009-05-02T20:24:00.008+03:00

Me and Kristal

Concert

Auction

Crowded down town

The Aussies :-)

Isac

Dennis on the swing!!

Flopsy the Rabbit

Campaine speech

Motorcycles

My cup of soup

Down town...free pea soup

Valborg (May Day)

2009-04-30T15:43:00.003+03:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night

At this link you can read about Valborg. (The traditions vary a little bit from Sweden to Finland/ Estonia/ Germany etc.
We will be having a bonfire tonight roasting hotdogs (Korv), eating donuts (munkar) and drinking mjöd. I'll have to ask more about what that is as I don't know how to describe it or what it really is.
AND hopefully I'll get some good pictures to put on here to make this whole post a little clearer.
By the way we aren't celebrating any saints if you wondered....this holiday just gives us a reason to have a fun evening.

Isac enjoying his korv (I think he ate 3:-)

Tindra

Felicia

Ellen

Ingrid

Dessert

Ingrid and Isac eating dessert

Felicia with the cat...too bad the lighting wasn't right.

The gravel pile was a great source of intertainment!

Ps. we didn't have a fire...just grilled on the grill but it was so nice!
Tomorrow is pea soup in the shopping center and a big flea market downtown.

Scenes from Spring and a Piano concert

2009-04-26T21:39:00.007+03:00

Most of you know I'm crazy about flowers.

These were my favorite of the ones I saw today on my walk.

The piano students at the concert.

This is Felicia. 8 yrs old. A very happy relaxed looking fellow.

The cute, relaxing, old, amusing, and the pretty

2009-04-24T14:13:00.006+03:00

The ship Pommern that I saw on my walk this AM. I love ships and water!

Ha - We sure don't see many signs like this in NE....course you can see why they put up the sign with the hill, curve and the water!

So if you're going to paint your boat and it's sitting in the water where do you put your bucket of paint?? Why on a floating raft of course! I wonder where the person painting it is supposed to be? Does he swim in the water while he paints??

Have you ever seen barnacles?

These 2 dresses and hat were "cute!" I think I'd be in real trouble if I had my own kids....or at least my wallet would be in trouble!

I'm sorry if posting these offend anyone but they were too amusing to pass up taking a pix. Being around little kids a lot...and not only little kids one has seen this exact expression many times.

"The pretty"
Racks and racks of pansies (one of my favorite flowers) at the Skalleberg green houses

"The relaxing" Okay some people here would say it's not a real sauna unless it's got a wood burning stove. This one was electric but it was nice and hot so did the job. Not many of you over there would know about saunas! They're great and it's amazing that that you can get out and really enjoy a shower of cold cold water to cool off. I'm waiting for my chance to use one in the winter and then go jump thru the hole in the ice

The "old" An old spinning wheel outside of the antique shop

I just thought this pix looked relaxing too. On a nice sunny day what could be better than a walking path, a park bench and flowers!