Gingerbread Man is an ALASKAN now!

I am Mr. Gingerbread Man. I live with either the Gherkin Guy or the Gherkin Girls a year at a time - decided by who wins the Annual Gherkin Gingerbread Competition. The men won this year. They haven't seemed as interested in taking me place. I'm not one to complain, but last year I was in a zillion states, climbed mountains, camped on the beach, went to Mexico, moved to Alaska in a U-haul and then helped settle everyone in in the Valley.  I've pretty much hung out at the house this year.

But today - things changed. I'll explain how I found myself to be lying in the snow as the post moves along.

First, Jamin came by bright and early to help Michael  (Dad G) build bookshelves and learn how to do it.

By mid-afternoon Josiah showed up. He was followed by some strangers in a truck. They unloaded the strangest looking cars? motorcycles? I've ever seen. 

There were two big black ones and a little yellow on. It turns out Josiah had purchased snow machines for a good price and they were being delivered. The yellow one was thrown in free - it's for kids and needed a bit of work. By the end of the day it was up and running. 

As soon as Bella was put down she ran for Mom G and the little yellow snow machine. No, she hasn't ridden on one. 

I, however, was thrilled to ride around the property with Josiah. I think I'm going to like living with the men this year..... 

Mom G made a video....

Everyone took a turn. 

We aren't wearing helmets - but we will when we are going fast and out of the yard. I hadn't even thought about it until it was pointed out by a video viewer. There are no laws here about wearing helmets for bikes, motorcycles or snow machines.  

Bella decided to move over to the big machine. 

Bella and Auntie Arielle and Auntie Stacia

The rest of the day Bella and Izaak slid out back. 

Kids played games inside. 

Mom G cooked dinner. It was a great day. Family working, playing, eating and having fun together.  I think I'm going to like living with the men this year, after all. I hear rumors of great fun when the summer hits. 

Ending Another "Work" Week

How I love Fridays! We ended our school week with a trip to Jumanji! We chased the sunset on the way home.

And for some reason this one shows bright white. LOL We were standing on the bank of the Knick River, with mountains and sunset behind us. 

We pulled into our driveway in time to spy these two munching on our brush pile. 

 One can never tire of these two. Cousins! How blessed they are to grow up in the same location. I wish I had grown up near cousins. 

Benny (3 months), Gideon (9 months)

Life Groups & The Moose

The highlight of the day is the start of a Life Group here at our home.  Small Groups, Care Groups, Community Groups, Life Groups - all the same concept.  At the chapel small groups were topic driven: "marriage, parenting, Ephesians." At our home church  community groups are more activity/fellowship based: "running, games, praise dancing."  Here, Life Groups are Sermon centered.

They are "designed to take our discussion Sunday mornings a  little further...into the world in which you live...there is no way to truly have a conversation and meet people right where they are at in a large group setting. It's our desire and calling to partner with people on their journey of becoming and we feel that becoming happens better in smaller circles, rather than in larger rows. It happens best when we learn from each other; hearing the questions others have, seeing the ways Truth can be applied in other real-life situations, and having personal input in the conversation. It's just better together!"  From Church's website

Goodies we didn't touch. LOL We DID sell them later. 

I think all the small groups I've seen have worked well at building community. We are currently attending the Life Group we started attending months ago on Wed nights. We will lead one in our home on Thursdays. Obviously, it would be a bit redundant to hear the same sermon 3x a week!  These groups are not simply a "retelling" of Sunday's sermons. It's a great place to wrestle out some of the truths from the sermon,  discuss questions of application, or see how others understood a point on which one may be fuzzy. Each group has its own personality - and while the talk goes in a similar direction in each group - the applications and questions from the leader and participants lead to a varied experience.

I DO miss the other types of small groups I've been involved in  - but  we are content to follow the vision of our church leadership, and to wait until God opens opportunities for a variety of groups.  AND if we got up in time for Sunday School that would serve as a Bible Study based small group. In this season, God has been telling me to choose where I invest my time and "relationship seed" carefully. I'm out of the home a minimum of 3 days a week with Michael's treatment. It would be very easy to get busy and "see a lot of people," without getting to "know" a lot of people.

In other news - our collared moose is back. She likes it here. 

More Snow

Snow, snow snow. Not a complaint - just a fact. 

Sun is never overhead - skirts around the horizon 

I LOVE the light shining on our mountain

I've got video clips of snow falling - very peaceful. I'll eventually get it into a youtube clip and share. I think it will be my "go to" calming nature clip. LOL

February's Family Birthday Celebration

We had to put off February's Birthday Celebrations - it landed today, on the 11th. This also happens to be Alex's 16th birthday. I'm not sure where the time is going.

The day began with MOOSE.  I'm curious to see what their cycles of visiting will be. They were here in the fall, rare December/January, and we are seeing some most days in February.

She's not nekkid! She has a pretty red collar. We assume the Fish and Wildlife Dept chose her to monitor her grazing patterns. She likes our yard and the general neighborhood near as I can tell. 

Love her snowy nose! 

We tore ourselves away from the moose and headed in for church.

Everyone began to show up for the evening's fun. 

Benny @ 3 months

 Bella LOVES Benny! She's in a new phase of saying "Ah, CUTE!" when she sees puppies, babies, stuffed animals...

Uncle Jamin and Benny

 Everyone gathered for February's birthday dinner. Alex had to wear the hat as the dinner fell on his birthday! It's only right. 

You can see Bella and Gideon in this one. 

The Birthday Gang

Jamin (20th), Cy (9th), Alex (11th), Nolan (8th)

 Note - all are turning 57 this year. ::snort:: 

We think of EAFB Gospel service with each birthday and anniversary! 

The day concluded with peaceful night skies. 

Mom's 1st Birthday in Heaven

The 10th came and went without a lot of hubbub. It was Mom's first birthday in heaven. It's the first time  Josiah (whose birthday is the 9th)  did not heard from her on  his birthday reminding him they really share a birthday. It seems we were "on the wrong side of the dateline," when he was born.

I was determined NOT to be in the funk I was in on my birthday on the 10th.  I took a meal to an older woman in our church who had had surgery on Mom's birthday.  It was good to focus on the needs of another on Mom's day. It was good to remember how so many said she loved them well during her life. I try to be the type of person who thinks of, and loves others, even on the hard days. It was fun to get to know Ms. Bonnie a bit better outside of church. I am convinced we are all blessed by inter-generational relationships and am thrilled at the opportunities for this in our civilian church.  It turns out  God has put me on Bonnie's heart and she has been praying for me since I left to be with Mom in December.

I'm well. Most days are good. Some days are melancholy. I still have quite a few secret tears, but they aren't quite so unpredictable these days.  It seems I will not make it through "Bless the Lord oh My Soul" - sung at her funeral -  or "Endless Hallelujah" without tears for many moons. ::grin:: The tears are predictable, the truths are foundational and soul strengthening.

It's been a blessing to communicate more with Dad. He had been content before to allow Mom to communicate and share knowledge that way while she was here.

We do not grieve as those without hope, and for that I am so very thankful.

Via Google images

TGIF!

Happy Birthday to Josiah! We love the man Josiah is - he blesses us all.

FRIDAY! We love Fridays, but this Friday we looked forward to this Friday for a special reason. Today, we met Kristine, a long time online friend and fellow chaplain's wife. She and her family are here for JBER (Elmendorf). She has chickens! Unfortunately, I didn't take a single photo. You'll have to take my word this meeting took place. I came away thinking I could do this chicken thing. 

But - before chickens - we had Michael's therapy. Stacia wanted to see the chickens, so she came with us to therapy. We didn't think she'd enjoy watching the electrifying therapy - she and I sat out in the waiting area. School on the road. 

We stopped by Beach Lake on our way home from seeing chickens. Josiah has been ice fishing here and we wanted to see for ourselves. It was a nice stop.

Thick Ice 

 Back at home the kids enjoyed sledding....

It's the MOOSE TIME of the year! We haven't seen this many moose since last fall. 

Nolan and I threw together some chocolate, peanut popcorn for our movie time. I do enjoy my walk out cooler. So thankful Michael insisted a deck be built off the dining room before we purchased the house.  

Yes, the rockers ARE on their sides. They get to rocking and moving to much if they are upright. I would put them in the garage for the winter - but the garage currently holds the things of three households and is full.

Hmmmm.....just realized I haven't done #WYFF in 2018.....