Apples of Gold

My Finnish Identity

Today is suomalaisuudenpäivä — The Day of Finnish Identity. In Finland, flags rise in honour of J.V. Snellman, the statesman and philosopher who championed the Finnish language and helped shape the soul of a nation. He believed in a Finland that could speak — in its own language, with its own voice. For those of…

All I Wanted

When I was a little girl and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never hesitated. I didn’t dream of empires or careers. I simply said, “a mum”. That was all I ever wanted — to be a mother. Not just in name, but in the deepest, most wholehearted…

This is Your Time

Autumn is my spring. While others come alive with the first blossoms and the lengthening days of spring, I stir awake with the falling leaves, with the crisp bite in the air and the golden hush that settles gently across the world. It’s as though something deep within me has been lying dormant through the…

The Sacred Pause

To grow, we must rest. It’s a truth buried deep in the rhythm of life — so obvious in nature, yet so easily forgotten in the noise of our busy lives. But the earth remembers. Even the richest soil needs to take a break. Rest isn’t the end of life — it’s part of the…

Hold on. Hope wins.

Yesterday was Easter Sunday, and there’s something about the dawn of that morning that always moves me. It’s quiet and golden, and the whole world feels like it’s experiencing a sunrise together. The shadows are long, the birds are loud, and it’s Christianity’s greatest day on the calendar — the day that says, “Hold on….

Stillness

Why don’t we take more time to stop and reflect? It’s a question that stirs the soul. In a world that celebrates hustle, speed, and productivity, stillness feels rebellious. To stop and reflect is to say: This moment matters. I matter. But instead, we race on—chasing deadlines, drowning in to-do lists, scrolling endlessly as if…

Completely Alive

The night couldn’t be more perfect for a stroll along the beach. The breeze is gentle, and the sea mirrors its stillness. I inhale deeply, letting the scents of the evening fill my senses—the salty mist in the air, the refreshing scent of eucalyptus drifting from the trees nearby. My toes sink into the sand,…

Cancer Diagnosis

I’m the kind of person who remembers anniversaries—not just the happy ones, but the ones that mark life’s challenges and turning points. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been this way. These dates help me reflect, appreciate, and stay grounded. They remind me not to take life for granted, to hold close the…

This World Needs Christmas

Imagine being far from home, cold, scared, and surrounded by the horrors of war. That was life for millions of soldiers in the trenches during World War I. But on Christmas Eve in 1914, something happened that still gives me chills every time I think about it. The soldiers on the Western Front had been…

Christmas Wish

Sometimes, life has a way of stopping us in our tracks, urging us to reflect. It’s so easy to get swept up in the holiday buzz, with its endless plans, lists, and preparations. This year, my Christmas tree is surrounded by a growing pile of gifts—a testament to my large and loving family. My kitchen…