Continuing on to Finland...

After spending Friday night and Saturday in Estonia, we took the Tallink Ferry to Helsinki, Finland.

Because it is summer, it doesn't get dark until really late.  The above picture looks like it was taken about 5 pm, doesn't it?  Well, it was actually taken around 8:30 pm!  It really skews your perspective of time...you yawn, look at the sky and think "why am I yawning" and THEN you realize that it is 10 pm, duh! ;)

We stayed in Espoo, Finland near church and not too far from the Helsinki Temple.  Sunday we went to church in Espoo as well.  A lot of the members there speak English, so they were able to translate for us.  Although all the singing was in Finnish...and let's just say: Finnish is hard to pronounce!  But we did the best we could (they like double vowels and double consonants).  And then visited the temple grounds.

Monday I showed Mindy where to take the ferry over to the island while I went to the Embassy to purchase some food (many of you know my issue with allergies here). Then we walked around the warf, looked at the goods for sale, had a salad for lunch and kept walking around the tourist area.  We had to be back on the ferry at 4:30 to head back to Tallinn then drive home to Riga.  Which we didn't get back to Riga until midnight! (Note to self: do not take the ferry that late or stay in Tallinn! hehe)

Visiting friend and Estonia :)

My friend Mindy Sanders flew into Latvia to visit me...actually, let's be honest, she came to visit a new country!  I just happen to be here ;)  No seriously, she came to vist me and the country.  With the location of Latvia and the European Union, it is easy to visit other countries and doesn't take long either.  So, Friday after work, we drove to Tallinn, Estonia and stayed the night. 

Me at our hotel in Tallinn

The view from our Hotel

Then got up and toured Old Town Tallinn.  In my opinion, the nicest "Old Town" of all the Baltics.  Tallinn has the most of the "old town wall" of any of the countries and it has been incorporated into the city.  Of course, there are cobblestone streets, towers, flowers, and tourists.






The view of Old Town Tallinn

A day by the beach

Since the 4th of July was on Sunday this year, we got to have Monday off from work.  I didn't want to not do anything, so I invited a few friends to go and spend the day with me at the beach.  Boy, am I glad I did!  It was such a beautiful day, the company was fun, and I even got into the Baltic Sea! (never thought I'd say that! ;))  We headed out of Riga after stopping at Rimi's to pick up a few food items and ice, then headed to Jurmala and the beach.  Since it was Monday, the beach wasn't super crowded, so we parked and staked out our "bit of sand".  We layed out, soaking up the sun-rays, but lathered in lotion (because none of us wanted to get burned!), laughed and joked, and then when it got "too hot" (according to my Latvian friend) we headed down to the water to "cool off".  My little grill was already in the car, so we cooked hot dogs for lunch and then layed out again.  All in all it was a good, relaxing day.  So glad that the sun came out! :)

US Embassy Riga July 4th Celebration

Once again I found myself in a foreign country on the 4th of July which is one of my favorite holidays.  I am just thankful that I was able to attend the Embassy's 4th of July event.  It was wonderful to spend the time with fellow Americans celebrating the birth of the greatest country on earth.  There are few countries that have the freedoms that we as Americans do, and while many countries are modeled after the freedoms that we enjoy every day, few truly understand freedoms such as we have.

Last year, I had been in country such a little time that I didn't know many people and so didn't take very many photos.  Well, I have made quite a few friends here, and so this year I was better about getting photos taken.

(Tom Butler, Dan Nice, Royanna Butler)

(Lori Littau )

(Wendy and Colin Smith) 

(Lisa, Kelly & Isabelle Busby )

(Brandon Savona) 

I even got to get a picture with the US Ambassador to Latvia, Judith G. Garber.  I actually am on very friendly terms with the Ambassador (not many people can say that and it be true!) and also got to escort other ambassadors to greet Ambassador Garber at the event.  Such amazing experiences that I am having!

It is my prayer that the Lord may continue to bless the USA and that her people will always stand for freedom and righteousness.  I am proud to be an American and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints, and wouldn't give it up for anything in this world.

4th of July

We celebrate the birthday of the US on July 4th, which is one of my favorite holidays.  I love the USofA and the freedoms that we enjoy because men say a wrong and decided to step up and make things change.  The bravery and dedication that this took, resulted in the birth of a nation that would inspire many other countries to change, demand freedom and be willing to die for that freedom.  This is my second year celebrating the birth of my USofA in another country.  Last year was especially emotional, but again this year, as they played the National Anthem, as I sang the words, I was taking back to the battles and the men that fought and died for our country, the founding fathers and the treasonous acts that they committed.  And I am ever more grateful that they were willing to do so because they knew that their cause was just and right.  Even though it was against all odds, our nation received it's independence and continues to enjoy those freedoms to this day because men and women still volunteer to defend those rights and freedoms.  I love the USofA, and even though I'm living outside of that amazing country, I only do so because I am doing my part to uphold those beliefs.  May God forever protect her and the freedoms that we as Americans enjoy, and may her people always stand for freedom and righteousness.

Graduation

I completed my MBA with a concentration in Global Management in December of 2009 but the commencement ceremony wasn't until June 25th.  I had the opportunity to go home to Arizona for the commencement ceremony.  Not only did I get to spend time with family and friends, but I got to enjoy the Arizona weather which I miss A LOT!  The ceremony was long (especially for the little ones) but the main speaker was Dr. Condoleezza Rice!  I've admired her for a while and so it was extremely awesome that she was the speaker at my graduation.

Then the family went to dinner at Reb Lobster afterwards and thanks to Ruth, no one had to pay anything!  She had giftcards that took care of the whole bill...Isn't she awesome?!?!  It was wonderful to have my family there with me on such a special day.  I have such an amazing family!

Catching up...

It is amazing how quickly time passes!  After Ruth moved to the valley to live with me, we decided to attend University 6th ward.  It was one of the best decisions we ever made because we made friends with some of the most AMAZING women I've ever met!  We spent a lot of time together, making some amazing memories, having some wonderful talks and becoming better people.

When I went home for graduation, we had the opportunity to get together for dinner to catch up.  It had been three years since all of us were able to get together, which is WAY too long!  But we had such a wonderful time catching up and making another wonderful memory together.

Love you girls!