I'm Going...

yes, yes, I am going to Finland! After my parents looked long and hard through my entire room at home this past weekend, I found my passport with me, here in my room in Boston. Sorry mom and dad!!! Thanks for looking though...I owe you! :) I had put it safely inside one of my journals with a snap close to be sure it did not get lost when I moved in September (shows how often I use that journal). Well, I had looked in the drawer that the journal was in a number of times before I decided to go through every single item in my room on Sunday. So, there it was, waiting to be found Sunday night, right with my immunization records card. So, it's good that I found both of them and since I can actually leave the US and come back now, I decided, why not?! So, I booked my ticket last night to go to Finland and am so excited! When will this semester be over? But, at the same time, I have SO much to do before it finishes and before I leave. I leave Monday night, after all my finals are done, on April 26 and then I come back on May 8, which will be just enough time to rest up some and get ready for school to begin once again on Monday, May 10. That's my exciting news this week and I am thoroughly looking forward to meeting family and being with Mummi in her country of birth. :)

Finland

I was talking to my dad the other day and he mentioned to me that my Mummi (my mom's mom) will be going to Finland for 2-3 months. It has been a desire of mine (more so in recent years) to have the opportunity to go to Finland with my Mummi. With that, I do have a two week break from school at the end of April to the beginning of May, which is during the time she will be there. I began looking at flights, and am playing with the idea of going. hmmm......If I knew exactly where my passport went, that would be helpful if I do end up going. I wonder where it went...I briefly looked for it here, but was not able to find it. I wonder if it's in my sock drawer at home. Or maybe in my shelves somewhere. A prize to someone who finds it first! :) Maybe Stephen will look for it this week while he's home for his spring break?! If I am able to locate my passport soon, I will definitely be looking at flights more seriously. Anyone know of a good deal for a plane ticket to Finland?

Down Jacket

This morning, I woke up to rain and a little bit of cold in the air. I actually fell asleep to rain too. So, it has been raining for quite some time now, and it doesn't look like it will be stopping anytime soon. While I was getting ready to go to church, I decided to wear my down jacket because it's "waterproof" and would keep me warm. Well, I learned that it isn't waterproof and my jacket was SOAKED after being outside for just five minutes. I got to church and everything was okay. I was a bit wet and my clothes weren't visibly wet, but they were sticking to me a little bit. Then, after church, I had to face the storm again. I was meeting Hannah and Shirin to go shopping, but by the time I got to the store, I was soaked through and through and my coat was dripping wet! (even after standing in the store for 15-20 minutes) After deciding I didn't want to be trying clothes on with my own clothes being wet and gross, I decided to return home and get dry. When I got home and took off my jacket, I found my shirt was now visibly wet and my jeans were soaked as well. My shoes kept my feet pretty dry, which was fabulous. Only if my jacket was able to keep the rest of me dry. Oh well. I suppose down jackets are supposed to be used for a lot of cold and maybe a little wet rather than for a lot of wet and a little cold. We will probably have had at least a foot of rain by the time it finally ceases, but we shall see...

Mail Time

Some of you know that receiving personal mail is one of my favorite things (aka brown paper packages tied up with strings). :) Speaking of which, I watched The Sound of Music the other night and fully enjoyed it. In the past month, I have received two wonderful packages sent with a lot of love. The first one was a Valentine's Day package from my parentals. There were all kinds of items inside this box and as I was unwrapping and unveiling the goods, I realized that most of these wonderful gifts were things that were taken from my room at home. However, they were just as enjoyable, if not more so, to receive in a care package. I was able to enjoy these things all over again and gain a new appreciation for my old items. Just goes to show how I don't need anything new and exciting to enjoy care packages; I just need the love from the care packages to enjoy the special packages I receive in the mail. Thanks Mom and Dad!!! :)

Another lovely package I received in the mail was from my grandparentals. I was only expecting socks, but I sure was surprised to find some extra goodies inside the box. :) Since I'm not able to go shopping at Grandma's anymore because I live 3,000 miles away, she was still able to help me and shop for me a bit! :) Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! (and Uncle Tom for sending the box of goods!) Also, the Valentine's Day card was so lovely and such a delight to receive and read! :)

I love mail. :) And I love those who send me mail (or have sent me mail).

Daylight Savings Time!

Remember to set your clocks forward one hour tonight!!! Looking forward to the sunlight (when it's here) lasting later in the day! :) It's been awfully wet and rainy the last couple days, but sun is in the forecast for Tuesday, so hopefully that stays true...Tuesday is a long ways away for the weather to be correctly predicted. :) It was sunny at the beginning of the week; what a gorgeous way to begin our spring break! :)

Spring Break...

...where did it go?! My, oh my, how time flies! This year, spring break for me was just a week without classes, which was really nice to have. However, in years past, because Cal Poly is on the quarter system, spring break meant a week of total relaxation without any classes or studying to think about because they were done! This year, spring break was a week of some relaxation, some studying, and some organizing my classes. You'd think I'd have them organized half way through the semester, but that was hardly the case. I somehow managed to pack my week full before it had even started, leaving only a little time to relax. Monday was enjoyable as I went to a friend's place for breakfast with a few other girls from school. She made the most delicious french toast and had eggs and fruit for us. After eating the scrumptious meal, we hung out, attempted a 1000 piece puzzle and got the border done and a little bit of the middle before we left. Then, I went to the gym and did some homework that evening. Tuesday, I went to clinic in the morning to make up for a previous week when I was sick. Then, Bible study Tuesday night for a Taco night, which was so good! Wednesday morning, I went to meet with a teacher, then studied that afternoon before going to another Bible study that night. Thursday morning, Shirin, Hannah, and I went and looked at apartments to live in next year. Didn't find anything, but it was a good start to the search. Then, Thursday night, I went to the Boston Orchestra Symphony with a friend, and what a performance! It was beautiful and we sat next to the nicest couple who have been going to symphony performances for years and years. Yesterday, I couldn't believe it was already Friday! The week flew by so fast! Yesterday and today I was able to rest a bit and organize all my papers and get ready for the last stretch of this semester, which was enjoyable. I felt so crazy all week long that I was so thankful I didn't have any plans for the last couple days of spring break. I was able to cook tonight, which I feel like I have not been able to do for quite some time, so it will be nice to have some leftovers too! :) I made a crustless quiche; I hope it turns out tasty! And, I also got stuff to make lasagna in my crockpot tomorrow! YUM!!! More leftovers for this coming week. :) Well, that's the overview of my spring break that I thought was going to be a little bit more relaxing and doing more "Boston exploring" but that's the way it goes and now, daylight savings time is here, and school starts again on Monday.