I love to laugh and smile and I love to make others laugh and smile too. I’ve even been known to play a practical joke or two. So it’s only fitting, that I was born on April Fool’s Day – a day where giggles are meant to be.
I come from a loving family of Finnish immigrants to Canada. A family dearly committed to each other and friends, to church and community; and most importantly, to God.
And the lessons I learned as a child to always help others, were born from them.
Like all teens growing up, I had drawn up the master plan for my life. I knew I wanted to go to university, have a business career, teach and travel. Maybe the opportunity even existed at some point to be a children’s author.
I always found the small creatures that scurry around the camp fascinating and the source of inspiration for these stories especially since I think the endless number of peanuts I’ve fed “Chippy” over the years will create a chipmunk the size of a raccoon someday.
It was just going to be.
With hard work and determination, I was able to complete most of my goals.
But nobody expects in the pursuit of their dreams, that things can go terribly wrong. Circumstances that can make you question who you are, and your life’s purpose and direction.
In a very small car accident, I hit my head and my world unraveled around me. Rapidly words and phrases like PTSD, Complex PTSD and dissociative memory labelled the conditions that were now part of my life as the accident triggered my repressed memories of being sexually assaulted as a child. The emotional pain was devastating and personal defeat seemed near.
I am blessed to have had family and friends, counsellors and ministers to help me cope with my past and find peace. Without them I would not have regained hope for my future.
But it was the unexpected on the initial day in the counsellor's office where I blurted out "if this is the situation I'm in...I will be relying on God and prayer to get me out of it."
It was my faith in God and the reliance on Him that ultimately brought true healing to my heart when I laid my pain down at His feet.
He saved me then and He continues to save me now.
If you would like to know more about my journey of faith and quest for well being, I would be more than happy to share it with you.
The Grace and Peace of God is meant to be shared.