2021 Women's Ministry Network Conference

In 2020 our ministry network didn't have a women's conference. This year they did. Covid numbers were high. It was unwise for some to be in a conference setting and for us to attend has traditionally meant carpooling on Friday and Saturday....so a total of at least 4 hours in cars. In the end four of us drove on our own to conference, rather than this being a church sponsored event.  The conference was for all women in the Alaska Assembly of God churches. 

Me, Jennifer, Jacque, Krista

Our group was small, yet it was a wonderful weekend. Krista arranged for us to rent an Air B&B rather than driving back to town.  Jacque had realty things to deal with and drove back and forth but Jen, Krista, and I stayed in town. This gave us a couple of hours to visit at night and a later Saturday morning start. It helped this feel more like the conferences and retreats I've known in the past. We had much more time for relational connections. This is a key element for which many women long. 

Me, Krista, Jen

We look a bit rough Saturday morning, but we were ready to take on the day. 

The conference theme was "She Abides" and it was an excellent choice for the year we find ourselves in, both the pandemic world and our personal worlds. It was a great reminder to make connection with Jesus our number one priority in every season of life. I enjoyed each message and the challenge to connect in a variety of ways. It was also a good reminder God is sovereign, and we can trust Him. 

The conference planners and host church did a superb job of hosting in the midst of covid. Chairs were not set up. Each group entered, grabbed their chairs, and set them where they would like to be. Other groups did the same with the groups staying socially distanced.  Between sessions all chairs were sanitized and stacked back up. I saw other sanitizing measures as well. I was impressed. We didn't have popcorn bars or breakfast treats...and there were no drinks provided...numbers were much less than previous years, but it was GOOD to be together again. 

I'm looking forward to a year of connecting with these ladies (and others at church) and attending in 2022. 

Rose, Termination Dust & Wood

 This is Rose. Rose attends our church. She's also come to women's Bible Study (Gather) and to our life group for a couple of years. Rose and her husband are going to move with their daughter and her husband to help with their kids as they transition to military life. 

We wanted to get a coffee date in before Rose moves.  The move date has been a bit flexible, but all of sudden the word has come it will be before next Sunday. Rose had time between packers and errands to run out to a local coffee shop. On the way to pick up Rose I kept thinking I'd rather take her to Sophia's than to the local coffee shop we'd talked about.  I asked her if she'd mind going to Sophia's instead. She told me it was an answer to prayer. She had told God she'd really to go to Sophia's before she moved. I love it when God gives one of his gals a heavenly hug. He did that for Rose today. Spending time out with someone in my general age range was a treat. 

Our mountain peaks...I love it when there is both fall colors and a hint of snow. White IS a fall color up here, as I've proclaimed many times. ::snort:: 

Michael continues to cut trees at KC's and the boys help split and pack it into the woodshed. 

Alex and Michael

Such a pretty sight

Termination Dust

 There it is! Termination Dust on our mountain on September 15th. This is right on time. Six weeks from now is the end of October.  Termination Dust is a warning to get your final projects completed. There should be snow in six weeks.   The old timers say when there is snow on the mountain over from us there will be snow down on the ground in two weeks. I'm watching....

Michael is newly motivated to keep splitting wood. Our neighbor has decided to clear part of his wooded area to make a yard. He told Michael he could have whatever he cut down. 

The pile is growing. I appreciate how hard it is to transform a tree into wood dried and ready for fuel. 

Thinning Beets

 I have been wanting to get Fireweed growing on our property, but haven't been sure how to start it. This lone plant has shown up in my garden. I left it. I find it to be a bit of beauty in the midst of more purposeful plants.  I plan to note when it snows at OUR PLACE and see if this little plant is a good predictor of snow for our address. They say six weeks after it seeds. 

Today's garden project is to tame my two beet beds. I had lots of seedlings and not much space. I need to get over my distaste of thinning plants. 

The beds are thinned. It's Sept 12th, I am hoping against hope there is time to produce some beets to can this year. I am not sure what is going on this year...probably something to do with my late planting and all the rain this year...but I have had lots of green, but not much to preserve. 

I gave the discarded plants to the chickens and rabbit. They loved it. Many pointed out to me on Facebook we could eat them ourselves. Who knew? I'm a total newbie to food production.

These girls have a long winter ahead of them. I don't mind giving them some extra nutritious greens this fall. 

Fall Work and Play

 9-11 always brings so many swirling memories and emotions. I remember. I'm not going to blog it this year. I have in the past. 

Fall means facing projects we haven't finished. We realize we aren't going to get the entire house stained before it snows. We are still debating HOW to do the front. I think we need to rent scaffolding. We settled for the getting the worst part done - the back and the south side. 

Michael, Jamin, Alex

Jamin commented every time he visits, he finds himself facing a childhood fear. He doesn't like ladders and heights. We sure appreciated his help.

Jamin 

I knew eventually he'd be on the high ladder.

After dinner we moved outside to the fire ring. These nights are wonderful. 

One of the trees Michael cut down was hollow at the core. He saved this chunk to burn in the fire ring. We decided to stay outside until the fire burned through the center. (Blogging in December and I'm in awe of the green...and the garden beds.)

The fire burned and we discussed our lives, read stories, made plans, checked out the garden...all the things. 

Brussel Sprouts are forming....I have hope...I think I'll plant more next year. 

Dash enjoyed getting out of his hutch to romp around. 

And finally, the fire broke through. I'm glad it took a bit of time. It was nice to simply sit together. 

Millie @ 1 Year

 Millie at a year old is definitely still a puppy. Stacia, and all of us really, have worked hard to train her. She IS strong willed, and very smart. We've never had a lap dog - but this one is determined to sit in our laps and be on the couches with us. We gave in. She's a snuggler...and we love it. 

Millie does make early morning "quiet times" interesting. She loves to study with me, the girls, or anyone sitting still in a chair. 

We love Millie. 

Belated Gift & Fall Visit

 CoRielle stopped by with Stacia's birthday gift. Amazon doesn't always get it here on time.  They gave her a cake pop maker. She promptly made cake pops and donut holes...

It's always a treat when Cory can stop by with the guys.  Cory's busy, busy, busy this summer/fall. 

Benny is protecting his food from "Michael"

Benny has taken to calling Danny, "Michael" when he wants him to really listen or thinks he's done something wrong. It seems Arielle calls him "Daniel Michael" in some cases. ::snort:: Danny reached his goal....he wasn't so sure it was worth the effort. 

That's organic rind you're chewing on there! 

On my morning walk I couldn't help but notice the fireweed everywhere is blooming to the top and starting to go to seed. That means 6 weeks until the first snow...or so the old-timers say.