Solong US

America(The US) is where I've lived my entire life. I was born there, I went to school there, and it's where my family is...well now only part of it. For my entire life, The US is where I've called home.

I was born in Toms River, New Jersey and studied at Pine Beach Elementary and later Intermediate West. I grew up 3 blocks away from Beachwood beach and in the summer I'd go to Seaside Heights no less than a few times a week with my brothers. We'd surf, walk the boardwalk, eat Sawmill pizza and cheese-steaks and get sun burnt so badly that my mother would threaten my brothers(never me, I was the good one). It was the life...and I didn't think I wanted anything else. Would you? In 2002 I moved to Washington State with my family. In a teal Hyundai Santa Fe, my mom, Step-Dad, sister and I traveled 20 days across the country. It was hard leaving my close-knit family but was an experience of a lifetime to see the country.
(My house in New Jersey)
(Pine Beach Elementary)
(Mayo Park where I'd meet up with friends and play)
We started with the old Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish communities in Southern Pennsylvania and rode horses through Civil War battle fields in Gettysburg. The lifestyle was different and I was shocked to see Amish buggies on the road. We drove through almost every state between AZ and PA. The Grand Canyon at sunset was unimaginable and Las Vegas was so much fun as you can imagine. After that we met my Step-Dad's son in LA to go to California Adventures(Disney Land and Universal Studios) and then drove up the West coast. We stood in the Great Redwood Forest, stopped at lighthouses in Oregon and drove over the Astoria-Megler Bridge which is about 4 miles long into Washington State. We lived on Whidbey Island, WA for about 3 years and enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing, and moved again to North Carolina. The culture shock was enough to make even the most outgoing individual into a recluse without some sort of help.

(Mountain biking in Fort Ebey, WA)

(The scenery)
(Golfing with the Pros)
(Throwing the Island)
It was difficult learning to enjoy the opportunities I had but so worth it. In New Jersey I loved the beautiful sunrises, the school system is was in, my family living close, the beach, the beach, the beach :) and the boardwalk next to it! Washington I loved the beautiful lush surroundings, the hiking in the mountains, and particularly the history in that part of the country. In North Carolina, the fields of crops, the southern hospitality, the food (with the exceptions of pickled pigs feet and fried snickers bars) and of course, the weather are all things I loved! With every move a person has to adapt but it's always worth it in some way. I became the person I am today because of these experiences. There are so many great people in each place I've lived and most importantly, I met the perfect girl and you know the story from there!
(Sigma gamma Chi dance at the University of Utah)
Now it's time for a life together in another place but not just a different state!

"Marika, will you marry me?"

It's been a while - ok, more than half a year - since the last time we updated anything. The main reason is laziness, I'm not even going to make up excuses. Anyway, a lot of things have happened since the last time and the people that follow my other blog are aware of the main points. At least they know that I'm spending half a year as an au pair in Salt Lake City, Utah, with Kyle while he's going to school. Actually I moved out of my family before I came to spend Christmas in New Jersey and North Carolina but that's a story for another time.

It's been almost three months that we've been able to be together. We've had our ups and downs and we even discovered that we knew how to argue. It was a big change from never seeing each other to seeing daily. However, we've grown closer together and I can't even describe how I feel about him. He's the person I want to spend my life with. I want to wake up next to him every morning and go to sleep together. I want to eat together and cook together (which is a nightmare because we don't agree on anything but I love it regardless)  and joke around while doing that. I want to call him randomly at work just because I thought about him.

On that note I have a confession to make: Kyle proposed on New Year's eve and we're engaged. We've been talking about it for a while because he decided he wouldn't go on his mission. We had been looking for rings and we found the perfect one but he convinced me he didn't buy it then and when he went back to get it, they didn't have it anymore. Well, on New Year's eve we went to the track field where we first met and at 4.25 p.m (we met April 25th) he took something out of his pocket, bent down on his knee and ask me if I would marry him. No need to say what my answer was. I guess we all got the ending we were waiting for. I don't know how often will I write on this blog but I'll probably write about the wedding preparations here. We haven't decided on a date yet but we're gonna get married both in the U.S and Finland.

Love, May

Today is Marika's 19th Birthday and I wanted to write something. Maybe it's because it's her birthday. Maybe it's the fact that her present hasn't come yet and I want her to know how much I care. Maybe it's just that I'm not next to her and miss her so much. What ever the reason may be, I love you.

I want you to know that you are the most amazing girl and the most important one in my life(after my mom of course.) You make me smile. You make me laugh. You make my day so much better and I'm sure everyone else you meet would say the same thing. No matter how long the nights are, the sun will come up. In not too long it will seem like it never sets.
I love you Marika Pekkanen. Happy 19th birthday! I hope it's perfect.

Love, Kyle

The race of time...a time to race

Marika and I have some time before we can see eachother again. To be brief, it's been difficult. Two months have passed by us since we've been together. I know it's hard for me but I can only imagine what it's truly like for May. We both have our weak points which sometimes show more than we'd like. We've talked every day which in itself is hard for the both of us. I'm sure it seems to some like we're wasting our time...but I don't think so. Yes, we both have other things we can do that will move us forward in life but just think about a relationship that you have.

How often do you sit down and just talk? Do you get to do this everyday? Every week?Ever? For us we talk on average about an hour and a half daily. It's probably only because we don't have eachother around but I have found that this is something that I enjoy. I don't want to give this up even when we are together. Looking at the time I have "lost" or "wasted" I've personally learned so much. Not only about Marika, but about myself as well. Sometimes what I learn isn't pleasant but it's who I am and it's who May is. May is so wonderful when she shows it. She usually does and it's amazing to me every time.

At times it's quiet, either we can't think of anything else to say or we don't want to say anything. Even with the occasional silence, it's not wasted. The time is ours, atleast for now.

We've both been doing the usual things...May goes to school, studies way too much and often goes for a jog or swimming or doing things with her friends. She sold some of her clothes and shoes at a type of flee market recently which I thought was cool. She watches a couple shows like Gossip girl or Finlands version of next top model but mostly she studies for school(I'm not so sure of how much studying actually occurs though :). She has, if you ask me, way to many books to read for school but that's just school. She's so smart too. Sometimes I feel a little out of my league when it comes to studies. I did great in school here (U.S.) but school here and school abroad are seemingly on opposite sides of the scale.

For myself I have been working everyday, with an occasional fun activity mixed in when I can. After 8-10 hours of work a day, it seems hard to eat, sleep, talk, and have the energy to plan and do other things. We have a little farm so I have kept up with the fruit trees. I enjoy landscaping so every chance I get to put in some more roses or prune something I do. I rode the horse this week which was...alright. My dog is a lot of fun to be around too. Recently I had the opportunity to race in a Triathlon in Wilmington which was really great. I went with my friend Henry and his dad and mom. His dad beat me by 10 seconds so it was lame but I was just happy to complete it. There was a fair going on the day before the race so it was nice to walk around and do things. I took some pictures of everything






During the fair we walked around, enjoyed the festival food and toured an old sail boat. There were lots of people there and so my friend was pointing out all of the girls he thought were hot. It's not like I am blind but all I could think about was that bright smiling face, laughing and squinting her eyes after me saying something silly. I knew something was wrong when my friend was checking out girls while I was checking out dresses for May but I didn't care. Nothing else really mattered.








We went to bed early in preparation for the race but I couldn't even sleep. Then they started lighting off fireworks which were really great, until the noise set off an alarm to a nearby Hummer. After that I just stayed up thinking. I guess what I'm trying to say is although it might seem easier not talking so much, it would be horrible.






I had fun, stayed focused, and ran the triathlon but she never left my thoughts. I saw couples enjoying eachother's company, and the scenery. It made me want her so badly then I realized that we have something special.I know it's sometimes hard to see the future but I know it's there. It's romance, it's passion, it's understanding, it's sometimes difficult, but it's there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN7ySoHxvqQ



Love, Kyle

Happy Anniversary

I was working yesterday when my co-worker came to tell me that I had a flower delivery downstairs. When I got there, this cranky deliverer gave me a huge packet and left, saying nothing more than "here". I opened the packet and there was twelve, perfect, red roses there with a  card that said:

"I want you to know

I was thinking of you.

You're the most beautiful

girl in the world, Marika.

You're amazing, smart,

kind, funny, unique...

but most importantly

you're mine.

I love you Marika

Happy Anniversary"

I know, I have the most perfect, amazing boyfriend that anyone could ever wish for. When I got the roses, I felt like the happies girl on earth. Actually, I feel like that all the time when I think of Kyle. He makes me so happy. And not because he gives me presents but because of who he is. I feel like I repeate him when I say that he's smart, funny, handsome, amazing, and kind, but the truth is that he's all that but also a lot more. I wish you could see how amazing he really is. Sometimes he really makes me wonder if he's real or not. Sometimes it feels like he just jumped out of the most romantic movie ever. I just hope we'll have the movie ending as well.

Kyle, I just want you to know that you're the one that I want. You're the best thing that's happened to me and I don't ever want to let you go. When I met you, I also learnt what was a true happiness and love. I don't want these feelings go away and I don't want you to go anywhere. This was our first anniversary but I really hope this is not our last - and I don't think it will. I love you Kyle Patrick. <3

LDS Mormons part 2

The Book of Mormon is a record of a people. They are the words of prophets and testify of Christ.

We worship God the Father. Jesus Christ is our savior/saviour I think that's how Europeans spell it :) Joseph Smith was a prophet, a man of God...we don't worship him.

These are my beliefs called The Articles of Faith and these the rules to health

Our Heavenly Father loves us and often gives us so much even if we aren't doing everything we should. He desires for us to be happy.

The Prophet Thomas S. Monson and other priesthood authorities spoke this April which was broadcast worldwide. They have it interpreted in like 80+ languages...I listened to the Finnish/Suomi one and it was crazy. About 12 minutes through, the translator sounded a little like a chicken laying an egg. Haha, and he laughs later on...it's great
Any way here's the link to hear.

If I didn't put enough spinach dip on your tortilla chip (May's favorite appetizer!) then you can order some more. Ha, but really if I didn't cover something that you wanted to know then you can go to this website: www.mormon.org.

I plan on working or going to school and then serving the Lord on a two-year mission. From the world's outlook on this it seems like blind obedience. Many of our ideas of success can sometimes be measurable in forms such as; expensive clothes, furnished homes, businesses, automobiles or pleasure boats. I'm not saying that these things in themselves are bad, but it's easy to make these our idols. It's easy to say that I will work and establish myself first with all that I desire and then I'll be able to give service and pay tithing. Even in Jesus' time people thought of good ideas to keep themselves on track with living commandments. Good ideas are exactly that, good, but they shouldn't distract us from the better eternal principles. For example, when Jesus was accused of working on the sabbath day. He taught that it was more important to live the spirit of the law.

How does this affect me? All of these things influence my attitude on life. I understand the significance of living this way. If I'm not filled with inner peace, outward love, and honesty to myself, others, and God, then I'll never be happy. I don't want to be common. We are commanded to Love God with all our hearts. When ye are in the service of your fellow man, ye are only in the service of your God. That's what I want to do.

This is a short clip that I found. If not anything else, maybe you'll see where I'm coming from.

Kyle

LDS/ Mormons Part 1

The purpose of this is not to persuade anyone or to give the basis for an argument. This is a blog about A Love Story. It is a story about Marika and I. We've received comments to learn more about being LDS so I guess I shouldn't put it off anymore. I will also consider that what you asked for was a taste, so take into consideration that it's an appetizer, not a 5 course meal.

The Plan
God is our loving father in heaven. He created us in His own image. He wanted us to have the joy and happiness that He has. We learn through our experiences. We need the freedom to choose, to decide for ourselves and experience the consequences. God cannot be in the presence of sin. Knowing that no one is perfect, we were given a place to learn, Earth. Jesus Christ's atonement, suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as His suffering and death on the cross, was central to our Father's plan of salvation.

Christ's Ministry
Latter-day saint reflects on the church that Jesus set up on Earth. He called twelve apostles and laid hands upon them and gave them the power and authority to act in His name. The teachings of Christ and the gospel of repentance was taught and given in the perfect state. After Christ was crucified and the apostles were killed off, that authority was taken from the earth. Even though Christ was not unitedly accepted, not all were bad. There were those who wanted to learn of the gospel and began teaching.

Telephone
There is a game frequently played in elementary school called telephone. It probably has more than one name but I don't know any others. The game is as follows: Students sit in a circle. The teacher whispers a sentence or message into a students ear. The student then whispers to the next student etc. When the message is carried to the end of the circle then the student stands and voices the message. Then the teacher says what the message was originally. Sometimes the sentence is accurate while other times the message is something totally different. I'm sure everyone knows what causes the message to change but I'll write a few anyway. People sometimes forget what was said, others missunderstand the message and then sometimes, there are kids for lack of better reason feel like being funny and change the message into something they think is better.

The church
After Christ, His apostles and many of His followers were killed, that priesthood authority that Christ gave to his apostles was lost. There was no one to teach the people and so, just like the telephone game, the interpretation of His teachings were taken and slowly changed. When something was not accurate to one's understanding then they corrected it sometimes starting their own church to teach as they felt right. In my belief, this is why there are so many religions and churches. Each have been based off of good, righteous desires or intentions with different spins or modifications to work for the peoples' understanding and way of life.

Prophets
Prophets are men called of God and given power and authority to teach and interpret the will of God for the benefit of man. A prophet acts in God's name. He can talk directly to God, face to face. Adam was the first prophet. God revealed the gospel to him. The Lord's plan or gospel has been revealed over and over again through direct communication to prophets such as Noah, Abraham, and Moses. After time people used their free agency and became lifted up in their own pride. When a prophet is rejected or killed, the priesthood power is taken from the earth. Yes, we can have personal relationships with our Father in heaven but a prophet reveals the will of God to the Earth. We can all recall working in a group or organization/lack thereof when there is not someone called to lead. Sometimes people are specifically good at different things. All it takes is someone who can organize and lead towards the end goal. At this time we have a prophet, who is called of God and is much like a watchman on a tower to warn us of incoming dangers.

There is more specific information coming


Kyle