SeizingMyDay

The Ten Inventions that Have Made the Biggest Difference in My Life

A recent USA Today feature isolated the "eureka" moments of the past 25 years. I decided to list my own list of top ten inventions that I most value. What would you put on your list? Here's mine:

1. The laptop computer has changed my life. As a professional speaker that travels, these ever smaller powerhouse computers allow me to connect to the Internet and the world, send and receive e-mail, write articles and columns, deliver stimulating programs and crunch the numbers I need. Even though I have to take out for airport screening; it's an innovation I wouldn't want to do without! You can add to that the softwares I value most--Explorer, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and ACT. I hardly use anything else.

2. Everyone values their cell phone, but I love my Treo 650. It combines a cell phone, calendar, camera, Internet access, email and travel tool that serves me well! I don't want five different things hanging off my belt. Give me one that works. By the way, I use my cell phone to call out. I hate to give out my number to others; who wants to be interrupted 24/7?

3. The microwave is a must invention. Who needs Starbucks when I can heat my water and add a tablespoon of Folgers Instant Coffee? I love putting a bag or meal into a microwave and having something good to eat in minutes. What would we do without it? I wouldn't want to try.

4. I love my digital cameras--still images and DV recorder! I love the digital world. You only keep the pictures worth keeping. You can store them, share them, enhance them, print them...what more could you ask for? We won't have any trouble finding images of our past; the trouble will be sorting through it to find what is worth seeing!

5. My IPOD is a treasure. I have the songs that I want to listen to available when and where I want to enjoy them. With my mini IPOD and my BOSE noise-canceling headset, I can enjoy the gift of music the way I want to experience it. I use it to bring peace, energy and inspiration to my travels.

6. TIVO has changed my life. I can watch what I want to watch on TV when I want to watch it. I can speed through commercials. I can store what I want to keep and view a great play as many times as I want to! I've watched UCLA beat USC in football over and over again. Now that is a great invention!

7. Credit Cards are wonderful. We never carry a balance. We just use them to avoid carrying cash, to ensure quality purchases that can be returned or contested, to keep records of our purchases, and to otherwise make life easier. The new gift cards allow us to take $500 in the form of a credit card with a limit. Now that is an invention worth honoring.

8. My small, battery-powered yard blower is one of my favorite possessions. Why sweep when with this small but mighty blower I can blow leaves and debris away in moments? These blowers are real keepers!

9. My Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-200S can record hours of my speaking and fits into my shirt pocket with room to spare. It makes MP-3 files I can listen to anywhere and transfers easily to my computer through a USB 2.0 port.

10. Finally, as a traveling professional with over 3 million miles on American Airlines alone, I love my luggage with wheels! I have an endless supply of wheeled marvels to choose from, and I love them all. Why carry it when you can wheel it?

That's my top ten. What would you change on your list?

(USA Today, May 21, 2007, p. 8B)

Graduations, Weddings and Travels Adventures in Arizona

What an amazing weekend of special events interspersed with frustrating, but ultimately funny, slapstick moments on our journey of celebration. It was a full weekend celebrating Christopher Leland's graduation from California Lutheran University and the Laurie and Seth Davis wedding in Scottsdale, AZ. Life in the fast lane makes for funny follies when you are on a tight schedule to make things work.

With the hard work Chris put in to earn is diploma, we had to be there for our nephew's graduation. After all, he graduated Magna Cum Laude! We've watched him grow up. He's joined us at NSA youth programs. He knows we are in his corner, and it makes us so proud to see him graduate. He has a job waiting for him at a respected accounting firm starting this Fall. He's got a charming, smart and fun girlfriend, Danielle, who we hope turns into much more--God willing and they both agree! It will be exciting to watch him find his place in the future.

As to the graduation, it was like all graduations--alumni, presidents, and students had their time at the microphone. There were penguins with caps and hoods everywhere. Unfortunately, there was the long and somewhat tangential commencement address that seemed to have nothing to do with the young men and women graduating. As it dragged on and dragged on, we were afraid we might have to leave before Chris received his diploma. Leland was almost at the end of the line because diploma's were given out starting with A in one line and Z in the other. Thankfully, we had time to catch him in his glory and made time for a picture, a hug and a brief congratulation before heading for LAX.  We are so proud of Chris and the young man he had become.

The trip to LAX down 405 was slow, even in the diamond lane, but we made it with time to grab a pizza before getting on the plane. The only problem on the plane was the woman behind me. When we got on the plane and got off, THIS WOMAN kept falling into my trailing luggage! It didn't help that this woman was my wife! Lorie's travel falls just added to the rushed, slapstick adventure we had on this quick trip to Arizona.

When we arrived a bit early, we went to the National Car rental to pick up our Emerald Isle car. We picked what looked like the best car available, a new Altima. Little did we know that although it had keys to get in, you didn't need a key to start. It was a keyless ignition. You push the button and the lights come on. When it failed to do anything, we searched in vain for a place to put in the key. Now, with time passing, I was getting more and more frustrated and my language a bit more colorful by the second. If only we had hit the brake, the car would have worked.

Instead, Lorie suggested the simpler Ford next to us. I hopped out of the car and in the rush hit the panic button on the Altima. The horn was sounding throughout the facility. I thought it was the Ford, so I pushed that panic button only to start the second chorus of honks. Finally, I silenced them both. Lorie decided ti best to remain quiet as I got the Ford in gear and headed for the checkout. A few minutes later, we had a good laugh as Lorie said, "Did we succeed in setting off two security alarms back there?" Yes, we were off to a memorable adventure.

We arrived at the Seth and Laurie Davis wedding with only moments to spare. I parked the car in 104 degree heat and headed past the bridesmaids to the outdoor wedding area. It was beautiful but hot. The service was lovely. Both Lutherans, the young couple was challenged to keep love, faith, forgiveness and hugs at the center of their lasting commitment. I love weddings. It means a reminder of how much I love Lorie, good food, and a chance to dance! All were realized at this wedding event. It's always great to be with friends. As usual, I took a lot of pictures and even had them transferred to a CD to give to the families and the couple. Pictures early mean more than pictures late!

On Sunday, we again continued our adventure when I wrote down the wrong address for the Community of Joy Church service. Even the GPS navigator was confused, sending us in circles around a non-existent address. By the time we figured it out, we went to the middle service instead of the early service...convinced that God had decided to humble me for all this talk about being a seasoned traveler.

The service was joyful and meaningful on Mothers Day. He preached on Revelations, but what stuck with me was a quote Pastor Walt Kallestadt attributed to his dad, "You can't know what the future holds, but you can know who holds your future!" What assurance to know that no matter how many wrong turns and trips we make on our journey, God is with us all the way working out His plan in our lives. Now that is a firm foundation for life! We survived the rest of the trip and made it back home without further incident aware that celebrating the memorable moments of life with family and friends is a blessing we must never forget to take advantage of!

Saturday, July 8, A Final Encore in the Celebrity Theater

It was wonderful to prepare for and deliver my final talk in front of a far larger crowd in the main theater. That is the first time I have done so for Celebrity; I hope it will not be my last. Their response was great. I just wish I had my PowerPoint advancer that would have allowed me to mover more on the stage. Then again, as always, the audience doesn't know what you didn't include or have, and they seemed to love it.

We've packed most of our items, and the luggage is ready to be put out tonight. We've put together our gratuity envelopes for the staff ($21/day for a couple). We did not get in our request early enough to give vouchers and have it added to our bill, so we had to give cash in envelopes. Next cruise we will get that request in early. Then again, the waiter, steward and their helpers will probably like the cash better. They won't have to declare it as income.

There is time for reading, relaxing and thinking. I finished the Burford book, Half Time.  Maybe I'm a bit past half time already, but the questions are valuable. How do you mover from success to significance? What now? What gives or rekindles your passion?

I keep finding that my mission has to capitalize on my strength--To use the spoken and written word to impact the faith, political choices and personal attitudes and influence skills of those audiences and readers I serve. I have a gift, and I find meaning and joy when I use it responsibly to make a difference. I feel God's pleasure and presence when I serve doing what I love. Half time for me may mean getting ready to do more of the same but require some refocusing on topics, issues and audiences that I most want to impact. One of those audiences is certainly going to be CRUISE audiences. I love it and will only get better. Maturity has its advantages. After all, this has been a great gig at this point in my life, and I want to keep it going.

There will be a final dinner, good-byes to our table mates, envelopes to give out, and a final farewell tribute show to end the evening. But outside the view doesn't change--we are looking at water! We are up early tomorrow..and we will be flying to New York and then on to LA....for a very long Sunday. May God be with us...as He always is.

Friday, July 7, A Beautiful Day in the Enchanting City of Oslo

Oslo proved to be far more enchanting than we had remembered from our first visit. Maybe the initial problem was that dad and I were in charge of the tour compared to an educated woman who loved her country and this city. We were the first tour off the boat and the last one to return. The Century docked right next to the Akershus Fortress that is a medieval fortress built around 1300. The castle has defended Oslo since then and has never been breached.

We joined our guide and headed off to see new and old Oslo. We saw Oslo's City Hall and the Royal Palace and summer home. The sun revealed a beautiful modern city with charming parks. The are economically very successful with only three percent unemployment. They are looking for 60,000 educated immigrants to come to Norway to work. I don't think they will take someone my age, but it wouldn't be bad. The oil discovered in the North Sea off Norway has been saved and invested to support the pensions of Norway's citizens. Their Social Security is more than a government promise; they have money in the bank. Maybe some of the Leland clan might want to return to claim their Norwegian heritage.

Voted recently as the most expensive city in the world, we knew we would not be shopping for bargains. That freed up a lot of time to look and not touch. In fact, on this Baltic cruise we visited six of the 20 most expensive cities in the world. I'm glad we did not have to pay for hotel rooms or food while we visited.

We first visited Vigeland Park, the park that is the home of Gustav Vigeland's unique collection of granite and bronze life-sized statues that reflect all of the stages of life from birth to death. The fountain contains the free-flowing water of life surrounded by statues reflecting people in the tree of life. We had visited Vigeland in 1983 with Mom and Dad. We remembered much of it, but it was nice to have a guide explain the man and his message.

We left Vigeland Park for a visit to Hollmenkollen Ski Tower that is located in the Oslo hills. It was built for the 1952 Winter Olympic Games though it was the original site for the first annual ski jumping competition in 1892. From the beginning, men and women competed, but the women had to wear skirts...a distinct drawback. The first record was 25 meters with the current record over 137 meters. Norway always seems to do well for a reason. They say that Norwegians are born with skis on; they put on skis as soon as they can walk and let them fall and get up early! It was a breathtaking location on a beautiful day. I also tried the jump and skiing simulator. It takes you on a jump as if you were the jumper. The camera is mounted on the helmet of the jumper. The jump was impressive, but then they took us on an Olympic downhill skiing run that was breathtaking. You felt the speed, the turns, the jumps, and the bumps.

We went to a two museums. One was dedicated to capturing authentic churches, homes and businesses through the centuries. The stave church was impressive; how they handled four-hour standing sermons in an unheated church is beyond me. But then what do you do in a country with only four hours of daylight when it is 40 degrees below zero. We learned that the beds were small in the homes because often four to seven people in a family slept sitting up in the same bed to take advantage of body warmth. Does that make you feel blessed or what? We saw an antique water pot in one of the farm homes that was just like the one we bought in our first trip to Bergen.

We ended our tour with a trip to the Viking Ship Museum where two preserved Viking ships were restored and put on display. One was a ceremonial vessel that was used to transport the Viking Queen at the time. She was buried in the vessel ad her vehicle to Valhalla, their heaven. The second was a more seaworthy vessel that could very well have been used to travel the Atlantic. Those were an amazing period of expansion, exploration and conquest for the Viking warriors. They would have been a formidable enemy. The coming of the Christians changed the Norwegian culture, but it took over 100 years for them to survive long enough for the Gospel to be shared and take root.

We were back too late to eat at the first seating so went upstairs looking forward to a buffet. We had to settle with pasta and pizza, as if a lot of food was really necessary after the pounds we have put on. The violinist program was a wonderful way to end the evening. Twice, the cruise director announced my encore program from the theater and invited people to come and see my 1:30 PM program, "Thirty Days to Change Your life." Thank goodness I have the morning to put the new program together, but then again, after 32 years of speaking, I have a few things left to say.

We were able to IM Nancy on AOL and found out that Sunshine is fine! Soon we will be home, and we are ready. There will be cereal, soup, water, fish and salad for weeks just to get back into my clothes! Good night from the North Sea.

Thursday, July 6, Speaking on Cruises Is a Joy

We slept in late. I needed it as I stayed up to midnight with half of the ship watching the World Cup semifinal match between France and Portugal. The French won, setting up a final against Italy. Go Italy!

Lorie's leg is fine and my back is better. Happiness is health and a short memory. We're ready to move forward with enjoying the rest of our cruise. After all, eating does not risk pulling any muscles; it just expands girth! Do bring adjustable pants on cruises of any length.

My talk on dealing with difficult people was a real hit. There was standing room only in the cinema. They loved it so much, The cruise director heard so many great comments that he has agreed to an encore on the final day at sea in the larger Celebrity Theater.

There were no tours today, only time to view open seas, read and talk. All were welcome relief from the long walking tours.

We put some time into looking at future cruises and which ones I might want to speak on again in 2007 and 2008. We're thinking a cruise to Scotland, Ireland and the Norway fjords late next spring and a cruise to South America in January of 2008. At 60, I think it is time to enjoy this opportunity even more. We shall see if Celebrity Cruises agrees with that desire. I hope they do.

Wednesday, July 5, A Free Estonia Welcomes the World to Sing a New Song

Up early for another tour to a new destination, Tallinn, Estonia. What a joy to experience a country that embraces the blessing of freedom. With a soaring GNP growth of 11% a year, they are embracing change in a land that has been free from Russia for only 15 years. With years of control by the Danes, Russia and Sweden, Estonia shaped its own Republic at the turn of the 20th century, but their freedom was short-lived. They were invaded by Russia, then overcome by Germany and then Russia again. But with the fall of the Soviet Union after Reagan, they declared their freedom from a bankrupt Soviet power.

No blood was shed, in fact, they called it the "Singing Revolution." Even when occupied they kept their identity alive by celebrating their national identity every year at their annual Songfest where thousands would come to sing and enjoy their folk music. We saw the huge outside bowl on our tour. They had pictures of thousands singing and thousands in the bowl celebrating their freedom in 1991. They are now members of the EU and NATO. They have soldiers in Iraq, but she confessed that it is a better deal for their country than NATO. Their air force has one plane and two helicopters.

I again was a tour escort and earned my keep. I had to help some disgruntled passengers who were left by another bus. They joined our team, and I had them turned around in no time. Another passenger on the walking portion found the distance was too great for the demands of the trip and went to return to the bus. I watched her from above and realized the bus had left, so I had to get back to her and assure her that we would be back.

The old city itself was as quaint and beautiful as we had seen. We saw the Russian Orthodox Church where a small service was being held for about 20 older women. It reminded us of our old experience in a Moscow church years ago--a bunch of church bitties who were not too nice. We also went into the oldest church in Tallinn which is now a Lutheran Church. It had coats of arms on the wall from past noblemen who had been members. There was a nobleman balcony where the elite could sit to watch the sermon with the only heater in the church. The rest must have hoped for a lot of hot air from the preacher! :-) We spent most of our time in the top portion of the time with vistas to the lower old town below. The biggest church, St. Olaf's was now a Baptist church. She had said that Billy Graham had worshipped there. Again we learned that most do not actively practice their faith, but the newer churches, Methodist and Baptist, were growing more and seemed vital.

In our new found appreciation for simplicity and the reality of just so many walls and places to put things, we just looked, walked and enjoyed the city and the people. We returned for lunch on the ship. And for the first time to sit in lounge chairs, read and relax. I am reading a wonderful and timely book by Bob Buford, "Half Time: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance." It shares some important insights and questions to ponder as one looks at what to do with the rest of your life. As a strong Christian and successful businessman, Bob had to struggle with what it meant to truly put his faith in Christ first in his life. He has found a blessing in living out his calling and using his gifts. There are questions all should ask.

I eventually went into the Jacuzzi and talked with some others about what we had experienced. One man who had been one of the START negotiators for the US military talked about the changes he had seen. He had met with Soviet military men in Russia and in the US. When the soviet military men came to San Francisco, they took them into a nearby KMart and the Soviets thought it was all propaganda. They assured them it was not the biggest or the best store. They did believe them, until they saw another from the freeway and told them to stop. When they went in and realized it was bigger, they were amazed about what America had. They went into the tire section and would not leave. One Soviet said he would not leave without a set of tires. He could not get them in Russia. In the shadow of July 4th, we might best remember how good we have it.

Soon it will be time to eat again! My back is better so I hope to exercise again tomorrow and add in some back exercises to the mix. Tonight we also get to hear a show from Jacqui Scott, an English singer. I'm sure it will be wonderful and set me up for sleeping...or the final World Cup Semifinal.

Tuesday, July 4, Happy Birthday USA Via Russia

It is a bit odd to celebrate the 4th of July in the former Soviet Union, but believe me when I say there have been a lot of changes since our last visit after President Reagan's visit in 1988. The bread and vodka lines have given way to numerous Western and Russian stores from McDonalds and KFC to their own department stores that would rival Paris. St. Petersburg is seemingly thriving, and they are working overtime to renovate their historical sites to add fuel to the growing tourist trade.

We started the day early with a 6 mile walk through the Hermitage, the phenomenal collection of art created by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great who collected art from around the world. From Renoir to Matise, from Michelangelo to Leonardo DeVinci, It was a tour de force through art history in gorgeous palace rooms and galleries. I can't describe it in a short space, so go to the website on the Hermitage and look for yourself.

We went from the Hermitage to a fine breakfast at Nevsky Palace, a five star hotel on Nevsky Prospect, the primary commercial street of St. Petersburg. Lorie and I ended up eating at different tables. I was the tour escort, and felt I needed to be a bit flexible since we got my seat for free. I ate with a grandfather and his two teen daughters, one from Costa Rica and the other from Germany. They were both exceptional young people and were enjoying the time with their grandparents and each other. They thought anyone younger might not enjoy it as much. I would tend to agree. Lorie talked with a man from Atlanta and a couple from Netherlands. When they found out that both Americans supported Bush, the conversation shifted.

The afternoon meant shorter stops at St. Issac's Cathedral, which is probably the third largest Cathedral in the world. It was beautiful. We found the Church of the Resurrection better, but it was still amazing. To think, prior to 1991 and the end of the Soviet Union, St. Issac's housed an exhibit against religion and the Church of Spilled Blood just stored staging for the Ballet. It took years to convert and reconsecrate both churches. Our guide stressed that most would say they are Russian Orthodox, but few have any faith behind that claim. Soviet propaganda has taken its toll on religion, but it is growing.

We saw many sites by bus and took time for some final shopping before we headed back to the ship. We had bought a gold and silver cross for Lorie at the Hermitage, a replica of a historical artifact that she started wearing right away. We bought a wood carved Santa with Troika design and vibrant colors. We kept walking away, and she kept lowering the price and it worked--we bought.

It was a wonderful visit, and Russia is improving. Our guide did not have much confidence in Putin and the one-party parliament that is a disappointment, but she could not argue with the economic progress. She is disappointed that Russia has not lived up to the hopes of freedom that were emerging early, but she is not giving up on more changes.

We gained back tonight the hour we lost coming to Russia, and we need it. Lorie's leg is bothering her a bit, and I pulled something in my back just leaning down next to my bed. Yes, sounds like an old man...! We both made it through the tour, and had a great time catching up with our table mates on their trips and experiences. It was great. We will go to the show and get to bed early. We have Estonia to visit tomorrow.

Monday, July 3, A Russian Reunion with Ludmila and Olga

All of the planning worked. They found me a ticket for the tour to the Russian Museum and the Church on Spilled Blood. We were able to find Alla, our tour dispatcher contact, that immediately contacted Ludmila Nikinova. We were able to talk to her and arrange for her and Olga to meet us at the market across from the church at 4:15. Once on the bus, we told our guide Irina that we were going to try to meet Ludmila, and she was so pleased because Ludmila had been one of her teachers. She reported she was tough but very good. Once when Ludmila road with her, she told Irina that she was proud of her, and she was so touched by her comment.

She was very good; she had a similar dry sense of humor that Ludmila had. We laughed and learned as we walked through the Neoclassical Mikhaylovskiy Palace, now the renowned Russian Museum. We saw Russian art from the centuries, mostly honoring the Czars, Peter the Great, Nicholas, Catherine the Great and others. We also saw a number of Russian Icons that mostly commemorated Saint George and Saint Nicholas. The colors were vibrant, and the religious heritage important. Though our guide stressed that most Russian Christians were very sour in disposition and boring. We were sad and told her that most Christians should have the gift of joy. We ended with some very passionate paintings of Lenin and the early Communist Revolution.

We kept looking for Ludmila, and after taking an impressive tour of one of the most beautiful churches we have ever seen, the Church of the Resurrection or Church on Spilled Blood. It was built on the spot were Tzar Alexander II, one of the Tzars was assassinated. They almost took it down during the Soviet years because of the Russian Revival style, but thought better of it. The vibrant colors of the enamel-covered, multicolored domes capture your eye immediately. Only in the last eight years have people been able to enter and see the amazing mosaics covering the walls inside. Pictures cannot describe the beauty of the church honoring Christ, Biblical characters and saints. It is a larger version of the St. Basil's in Red Square.

After finishing our tour of the church, we rushed to the market and found Ludmila sitting near the entrance in the shade. We saw each other immediately, quickly bridging the 17 years since we had seen her last. There were hugs for all. Olga had gone to get Ludmila an ice cream. We shared many laughs and quick memories. Instead of strolling the markets, we made our way to the nearby park and sat together on a bench. Ludmila's health at 76 is failing her. She has difficulty getting around, but loves her time with Olga and Vera. Olga is a lecturer and professor in college covering philosophy. She also leads tours in the summer. Vera is 16 and has had many interests. She was out trying to find a job and was unable to be there. She hopes to study economics, but Mom feels she will probably end up an accountant. Ludmila, as with most grandmothers, was not too excited about Vera's choice of clothes. We invited Olga and Vera to America, but they said getting a Visa from the US is all but impossible, especially to young, single women like Vera. They fear they are coming to be brides. Ludmila felt it was a travesty because they can reject the visa for no reason, and once a person has such a rejection, it is almost impossible to get one in the future. So all doubted it would be easy to arrange a visit. Ludmila gave us a lacquer box from her own collection that was beautiful and rare.

We had limited time, so after a hurried conversation, we took pictures, hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. Olga walked us back to the bus while Ludmila rested. She had come a long way, but seemed very pleased to see her, as we did.

We were back to the ship for dinner and then off on a very special White Night Cruise on the Neva River. It was wonderful. We saw sights from the river--The Peter the Great Statue, St. Issacs Cathedral, and the Peter and Paul Fortress that was mostly used as a prison. We enjoyed the folk singing from the troupe on board our boat. The woman was quite a flirt and played to the men in the audience...including moi. There was wine, vodka and water and plenty of fun had by all. We ended the evening with a concert at the Academy of Fine Arts where the Chamber Chorus Otkrovenie, composed of six men and six young Russian women singers entertained us with accapella singing of Russian classics and folk songs. They were so beautiful, young and talented. We shall not forget the joy they created for us this evening.

We ended with some shopping under the late night white lights. We focused on Christmas ornaments and a military hat with medals. We find that there are fewer things we want the older we get. This is good; it saves us money.

OK, time to get to bed. The computer was down, so no Internet. We won't have connection until we leave. They must be blocking the port's satellite access. That's OK, it's time for sleep.

Sunday, July 2, A First Look at Finland

We were off on a full day tour of the highlights of Helsinki and Porvoo, the second oldest city in Finland. We started with a look at two of the harbors and a brief stop at the Senate Building and the Helsinki Cathedral (Lutheran). They were in the middle of a Sunday service so we did not get to go in, but the structure was beautiful and dominated the skyline. Over 90% of the Finns are Lutheran and they need more churches in the city to respond to those who want to attend. We walked to the waters edge to visit the flea market. There were few things we wanted to buy, but it was still interesting to see the art work, furs and jewelry that dominated the wares for sale. We also walked by the Havis Amanda Fountain that is as famous to the Finns as the Little Mermaid is to the Danes. This charming naked woman was apparently put up in 1906 to the dismay of many of the proper women of the time. Over time, she became accepted and quite famous for gracing the harbor of this fine city. While we are talking about women, Tuula, our guide, was very proud of the fact that Finland was the first to allow women to both vote and serve in the Parliament. Now, 76 of the 200 Parliament members are women; their president is a woman as well.

We went from Helsinki to Porvoo and learned much about the history of Finland from Tuula who had a real passion for her job and her country. We learned that Finland was occupied by both Sweden and then Russia. After the Czar took over Finland from Sweden in 1808, Finland received more freedom under Russia than Sweden. They were able to use their own language and start their own economy. Finland claimed their independence in 1917 when the Russian Revolution started. The Reds (communists) lost to the Whites in Finland and formed a Republican government. There were consistent battles with Russia over the years over land adjacent to St. Petersburg. The allowed Germany to advance against Russia through their land because they had a common enemy. At the end of the war, Finland had to pay reparations to Russia for over seven years and lost the previously disputed lands. Finland is now a proud member of the EU and is doing well. At the same time, Tuula was clear about the nature of most citizens when she said, "We mean what we say, but we don't say much."

Porvoo was a very quaint village. With a major cathedral under construction after fire damage, we spent most of our time in the small shops. We sampled chocolate for free, bought a Christmas ornament, and took a number of pictures from the city. It was again warm with sunny, clear skies overhead. We have been very fortunate, but the heat makes it a bit more draining.

We stopped for lunch at Kiialan Kartanopuoti, a very quaint farm and distillery that was turned into a restaurant. The brick cellar with candles and Finnish young women serving, provided a wonderful break for our cruise. We bought a braided straw heart done in Scandinavian style, and watched the farmer bail hay as we waited for the bus to leave. We could see why immigrants from these lands were so comfortable in the Midwest. Once on the bus, Lorie and I both had brief naps as we took the bus back to Helsinki.

Before returning to the cruise ship, we stopped at the Rock Church. They had just ended their English service. The church was formed by dynamiting out a hole from rock and using the rocks produced to build up the sides of the church. The sunken church is an active evangelical Lutheran church in the area. The rocks and copper-coiled ceiling make for a very interesting sanctuary that is world famous. The actual name is the Temppeliaukion Kirkko...which is why most tourists settle for "The Rock Church." We also learned the source of one of the most popular praise songs from 2 Samuel 22:47: "The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation." We did miss not having a service, but taking a moment for prayer was a good reminder that God is always there whether we take time to worship Him or not.

We rested and tried to ensure that we had the right tickets for St. Petersburg and our attempts to meet with Ludmila and Olga. Because we changed our tours late, our trip to the Russian Museum and Church on Spilled Blood will be on our own. I won't have to carry any lollipop. That will probably be better making it possible to more easily talk to Ludmila without feeling I am shirking my duties as escort.

We have a night of food and a concert by a renowned pianist. That may get me to sleep early! I have a tough enough time staying awake in the louder shows! :-)

Saturday, July 1, Time for a Swedish Paulson Family Reunion

What a great day in Stockholm. The weather could not have been better. It was sunny, clear and actually a bit hot, but it made for a wonderful say with our two Swedish Girls, Anna and Mia Molin, and their parents Carina and Anders. We had not seen Anna in eight years, Mia in four and their parents in 13 years, but it was like yesterday when we found them. Anna and Mia met us first at the Royal Palace in the Old Town of Sweden. We had gotten their a few minutes early and had already bought a Svensk Korsvimpel for our flagpole and a runner for our dining room table with Dala horses.

Anna and Mia found us right away, and we had some great hugs from "our girls." It was so good to see them. Anna looked so much older and so much more mature at 25. She looked so pretty and was very happy with her job in quality assurance at a precise milling equipment supplier, the fourth largest in the world. Mia looked much more like we had remembered her, but she is now further into her college education stressing both economics and politics. She would hope to work in government services.

We took the full tour of the Royal Palace--the Royal Apartments, the Royal Treasury, Royal Armory, and the Three Crowns Castle display showing fragments of the first castle on the spot where the Royal Palace now resides. There was a lot of walking and interesting conversations about an endless supply of kings. As usual, there was much laughing, particularly about one king that was so fat that when he fell in battle, no one could pick him up because he was so heavy.

Carina and Anders met us in the Royal Armory, and they took us on a ferry ride to Skansen and our restaurant, Godthem. We had a very relaxing meal and conversation. It was good to catch up on the family and show pictures of Jeremiah and Micah. We remembered that Anna had fainted just prior to dad's 80th birthday celebration, and how Mia had laughed so much about being able to wear her shoes in the house, something she was not allowed to do in her home.

We made it back by the ferry to Old Town in time to buy some Dala Horse T-shirts for Micah and Jeremiah and a louder Sweden athletic jersey for Moi! We invited them to visit any time they wanted, and they did likewise indicating how close the flight is from London to Stockholm. We made it back to the shuttle stop in time to make it to the cruise ship with plenty of time to spare. It was a short but sweet visit with our Paulson Clan.

I took a quick turn in the fitness center before eating again in the main room. The Celebrity singers and dancers did a very energetic performance, "Shout," that truly was full of energy and shouting with so many of our teen songs from the 50's and 60's. It was fun, but we lose an hour tonight as we go to Finland, so I will be ending this quicker than usual.