PJ MONDAY

This is the 13th anniversary of the Tohoku quake and tsunami, and it is Flannel Monday.   In the grief group at ACF we watched a series by Rick Warren. There was a session on lamenting. I need to find it again. He made a comment we can complain to God and its lament/WORSHIP.  But it is not lament if you complain about God. Sunday Pastor Britt commented in her sermon, "Complaining TO God is worship, complaining ABOUT God is rebellion!"  YES! This is what we are learning intimately. We can bring the dark places to God! We can! And so, this morning I worshipped God by trusting him enough to share my lament...

Today is the first day of Spring Break for the girls and all the kids I know. GG and I celebrated our first day of spring break by him taking a fall as we left to go to the dentist! In the end he had THREE cavities filled. Y'all - the total bill was over $900. It does make me more thankful to pay the dental insurance premium. LOL 

Stacia sent an open invite out to sibs and nieces and nephews that this would be her day to have everyone over.  When we got home Carrie, and the girls were here. Stacia and Liv were busy in the kitchen. This "Cookies!" cookbook is my best thrift store find ever! Stacia has baked from it for years. 

Today, the girls made Stacia's famous MnM covered brownies. While they baked Carrie, Michael and I had a nice conversation, and I was able to get snuggle time in with Josi as well. 

Josi Faith - 2 days shy of 5 weeks old

We received the keys to Josiah's car yesterday. Our goal today was to open it up and look for Livie's big Stitch and Josiah's infamous blue and black flannel hoodie. He wore this flannel sweatshirt/jacket for over 20 years. Both were retrieved. Michael is charging the battery. There were tears - but it wasn't as hard as we were all expecting. 

Nolan dropped by. We all had fun holding Josi, playing twister, eating brownies and just being together! 

Josi & Allie

Livie & Nolan

Nolan & Josi

We have a spinner, but they decided to have Nolan call out moves. When one plays this way such things as left elbow on yellow and left thumb on blue happens! 

Millie joins the game

Everyone headed home with promises to be here Saturday for March's Family Celebration.  I pulled some chicken soup out of the freezer, added a bit of broth and made grilled cheese sandwiches with our fresh baked sourdough for dinner. 

The girls ran the extra brownies over to the college dorm. 

I have finished blogging and they are just walking in the door. I believe we'll watch the last "Sign, Sealed, Delivered" movie. 

It's been a great first day of spring break! The girls slept in, Stacia baked, they hung out with family and Stacia stayed in PJ's all day. 

GRACE NOTES:

1. A God who can be worshiped with authentic emotions. 

2. Spring Break. 

3. Josi snuggles and conversation with Carrie. 

4. Tearful group hug for Michael, Carrie and I as Livie scurried around inside Josiah's car. 

The Cruelest Sunday of the Year (DST)

It is my contention Daylight Savings Time is an obsolete idea - at least in Alaska. I may have to run for political office myself with a platform of abolishing the sadistic practice. 

In any case, we managed to make it to Eagle River for church on time.  Britt was preaching today, and it was good. She was the last in this series and spoke on singleness, with a challenge for community which was good for all of us to hear.  

I think Chepos/Eagle River is becoming our place. We certainly fill up the sunroom. Twelves of us today, plus two babies. 

Most of us took naps this afternoon. The girls and I, joined with Joseph and Rachel, and headed to Matanuska Assembly of God this evening to hear a special speaker, Dr. Daniel Nessim, from Chosen People Ministries.  

The girls are on spring break! 

GRACE NOTES:
1. Loved the focus on community and building relationships with those in different seasons of life than we are at church. 

2. Long Sunday naps. 

3. Friends and family with which to do life. 

Tea Parties, Swim Lessons and Relaxing Nights

Michael headed out for lunch with Alex.  

Stacia spent the morning and early afternoon babysitting for Joelle.  

I got up and baked a sourdough loaf and brownie bites.  I also got Dad ready for the day, released the chickens and finished a workout. 

Allie came up and helped me sweep and make grilled cheese and egg salad tea sandwiches from our brioche and sourdough.  We also had apples, cheese and crackers...We plated everything up and had only to wait for Bre and the kids to drop by! 

Jojo, Allie, Trudy, Bre, Annie, Bella & Gideon

GG was at the head of the table but didn't make it in this picture. It was a fun visit with the kids. Bre and I manage a quick visit when the kids ran off to play games with Allie... We had planned games with the kids at the table...next time. I need to figure out how to keep their interest while we clear the table...we lost them in the interim. 

Then, PAPA CAME HOME...and when Papa comes home all manner of excitement ensues. 

Classic - Michael and Annie

Noah had an exciting afternoon too. He had his FIRST swim lessons. Larissa got in the water with him for this week's lesson. He wasn't sold on the experience at first but warmed up to the idea. He seems to be holding on for dear life in this photo. 

Larissa is such a good mom! 

Noah seems happiest out of water at this point. 

Nolan and Alex are having the sibs over for a game night. The girls will be over there this evening.  I am stretching and folding sourdough which I neglected this afternoon. I'm prepping for tomorrow morning's loaf. 

I plan to settle in to read, visit with Mike and just RELAX after a dinner of leftovers. 

*Note - photos of Noah from Larissa! Thanks. 

GRACE NOTES: 

1. 6 days of walking this week! 11.5 miles towards March's walking goal. 

2. Time with grands and Bre. 

Girls that Warm My Heart

I sit and look over the day and realize I got to spend the day with special girls that warm my heart...add Stacia to this mix...no photo. 

Allie and I made it out for our "weekly" one-on-one date. It's been several weeks since we've gone out due to her college schedule. It was good to sit and talk. We came up with a plan for our Bible study times for the rest of the year.  We didn't take a photo at the cafe but here is one of us at home. My poor family and friends. I'm BLOOOOOGGGGING again. Smile, pretty! LOL 

Me & Allie

I made sourdough rolls today.  They are good. I didn't put the honey and butter on them that was called for. Someone asked me what we're doing with all this bread...WELLLL....we eat quite a bit, I give a bit away, I double wrap and freeze some for later use. Seriously, my doc recommended sourdough and making it is far cheaper than purchasing it. As I've been making a few other things with the starter this week I've realized the ole standard I make most days is very healthy. It has no sugar or butter in it. It's starter, flour, water, and salt.  The fermentation is good for gut health. All in all - if we want bread this is a good choice... I like baking bread, and they like eating it...it's therapeutic.  These are wrapped and in the freezer.   I was afraid they wouldn't rise but they rose quite well. 

These gals reached out to me and asked if we could get together. Oh, yes. There is a new spot in town we tried....The Sweet Gypsy. YUMMY food - and the prices were good too. I had a Kale salad that was fabulous. They have a couple of calzones Michael may like. We'll have to try a date night soon. 

Melany, Me and Joelle #girltribe

Michael and Dad stayed home with pizza for dinner. The girls are at an ice skating/hot chocolate party with friends from college tonight. 

Check out Josi - I think she's figured out the thumb thing. 

Josi @ 1 month - photo by Carrie

Livie displays a style we see a lot of up here! 

Photo by Carrie

Look at that SMILE and dimple! 

Photo by Carrie

Does anyone else feel like this has been a really long week? I am ready for a slower pace for a couple of days. 

GRACE NOTES:

1. One-on-one time with Allie. 

2. A community that loves us well. 

3. Two more girls are going "with me" to IF:2024 - Arielle & Carrie. 

4. Friends - love you Melany and Joelle. 

5. A husband who doesn't think twice about finishing the stretching and folding of sourdough, cookie dinner himself and hanging out with Dad so I can duck out for a few hours with friends. 

A Great Day

Josi is one month old today! What a beautiful gift she is to our entire family. Carrie is such a great mama and Livie is a fantastic big sister!  Josi is long and thin like her daddy. She LOVES outside walks and sleeps better on the days she gets outside.  It would thrill Josiah to know she loves Alaska's outdoors. 

Photo via Carrie

Yes, she's discovered her thumb! 

photo by Carrie

Stacia and I have adjusted our one-on-one meeting time. We have done breakfasts for years. Michael watches GG while the girls and I meet. He meets with Alex on Friday afternoons. Michael's hard nights are making my 3 mornings a week out of the house (babysitting boys, each of the girls) difficult. We moved our breakfast studies to lunch...and the boys don't need me any longer. It's still a sacrifice for Michael but it's doable.  Stacia has a Thursday morning class and I meet her at the cafe when she is done before her afternoon of study. LOL We aren't doing a prepared study in this season. We are simply looking at 3 verses of my choosing every week. LOL 

Ah - the bread routine. I was working on Brioche, something new to me, yesterday and today so the rhythm was a bit off.  I was happy to see the dough really did rise over night. 

Stacia suggested I not try the braid until she was home to help. She's good at this stuff. The timing was off. I needed to punch this down, form the loaf and let it have a long second rise in order to bake it before our evening plans. I decided to attempt it alone. I started out well and then got lost in the cross overs. About 1/2 through I simply began tucking strands where I could fit them. ::snort:: 

Michael said it looked fine for a first try...and it tasted AMAZING.  It's a rich dough with lots of butter, 4 eggs, couple tablespoons of sugar, and milk. It tasted very sweet to us - probably because our sourdough rounds have no sugar and that's been our only bread as it doesn't spike blood sugar levels quite like regular store-bought bread. I should experiment with monkfruit or swerve or something. 

I could tell it was a hit as it looked like this in no time at all.... I'm thinking the dough without the braid could make a yummy slicing loaf - maybe decrease the sugar. 

I mixed up todays dough to make rolls for tomorrow. I hope they work as well. The Bosch is continuing to dance and leap all over the counter. I caught it mid-air today and decided to hug it for 5 min. Allie grabbed a photo as we laughed. We're brainstorming best ideas to contain the Bosch.  YES, it's ALWAYS done this - since it was new in 2004.  In times past there was always a child or two happy to watch it. 

ACF, Eagle River church, is hosting the women's If:2024 gathering in April. I registered today. I am excited to finally be able to participate in one of the IF gatherings. I've loved many of the speakers for years...Jenni Allie, Sadie Robertson, Christine Caine, Annie Downs, Toni Collier, Amy Bay, Jada Edwards, and the list continues.  

We planned to meet Chase, Jamin, Jenni, Nolan and Alex at the movies at 5:45. This meant for an early dinner. I had brought Michael a Reuben home from the cafe. He insists these are the best in town - and he has tried them all. The sad reality is they are only on the menu in March. Dad ate the other 1/2 of my lunch sandwich and chips.  The girls found leftovers and I settled for a piece of bread with a bit of all-fruit jam.  Then we raced to the theater in Wasilla. On the way we found out Chase couldn't join us due to work. This was season 4, Episode 7 and 8 of The Chosen. It was excellent. They showed this season in three theater events before releasing it for free on the app. The first episode was emotionally devastating to a family in mourning. It was hard, but good.  We missed the second episode. Tonight, we were prepared for the grief and joy surrounding Lazarus death and resurrection.  It was well done. Going to the movies in a smallish town one always runs into people we know - which is an added bonus.  It was fun to meet up. I was surprised when Jenni showed up to visit after the movie. Thursday is our Jenni night and movies just aren't conducive to visiting.  Michael had invited her over while I was in the car. LOL

I leave you tonight with a photo of another grand blessing. This is Noah enjoying a post district convention treat - Chugiak/Eagle River's youngest Republican. Who says there aren't perks to campaigning? 

Photo via Jared 

GRACE NOTES: 

1. One-on-one time with Stacia. 

2. Chance meetings around town at lunch and the theater. 

3. Movies with the gang. 

4. Thursday night visit with Jenni. 

5. One month with Josi.

6. One more mile towards March's walking goal. 

7. Having so many Gherkins in the area is blessing beyond measure. 

Baking, College, Counseling and Life Group

Another morning, another loaf of sourdough. I have 3 in the freezer, and we'll eat this one tonight/tomorrow. I decided to try something different. 

I am trying a brioche with eggs and butter and milk...and starter. I'm not sure I'll be able to figure out the braiding by myself...but I'll worry about that tomorrow morning. 😀 I pulled out the Bosch to do the kneading...and it walks and leaps all over the counter. WHAT have YOU done to keep your mixer from walking? I decided to sit down with a cuppa chai and a scone if I was going to have to stand with a hand on the mixer for 10 min anyway. ::snort:: 

The girls didn't have classes today.  Stacia had time to take Millie for a run in the park. Millie feels like a queen as she got the cow hip joint/bone to eat today too.  Allie and Stacia are working hard to get things completed before spring break.  Stacia had a counseling appointment.  The girls stayed home with GG and watched, "The Iron Giant." 

Michael and I attended a new life group. We are pretty excited to be taking this "next step" with our current church.   We had been hoping for a life group in the valley. This one is just starting in our town...we won't have to drive 1 1/2 hours to attend, and we may make new friends who live out here. We're discussing Nehemiah which is a book I've wanted to spend time studying for about 9 months. 

GRACE NOTES:

1. Everyone was home for dinner - that doesn't happen often these days with the girls' college and social schedules. 

2. We began attending a life group in our town. 

A Day in the Life

 Just a routine day at home....

The morning begins with baking the loaf of sourdough which has been fermenting overnight...spending time with Jesus...getting GG up, into the shower and through breakfast...

Next, I prep the pieces that will become tomorrow's bread and feed the starter....

The chickens are ready to be fed; I collect eggs, make deviled eggs, boil another couple dozen eggs and then jump on the treadmill. I miss my outdoor walks, but I don't dare leave Dad alone for that long in the house. Michael is having more and more trouble sleeping and often sleeps into the afternoon.  It is TIME to see the neurologist again. 

Allie left for counseling and college.

I blogged. I'm trying to get at least one back post a day.  Writing DOES usually help me process. Several wonderful blog readers are giving me positive feedback. Michael and I didn't want it to seem like our "family" quit when Josiah was gone...and there are lots of great things going on... I agreed it was time to start blogging again.  What I didn't think about is that to write them, I would have to go back and re-live them to be able to capture the emotions of the event.  There were a lot of big milestones in February, and while it's great to write about it and I'm happy to have begun, it's also been emotional. 

I had just finished the post on everyone meeting Josi and looked to see the next one up. It's on our celebration of Josiah's birthday. I wasn't up to it.  I pulled a beef bone out of the deep freeze to cook up for Millie, and I decided to make a salad for dinner first. 

Millie went CRAZY!!!!! I ignored her.  Dad said, "The boy is here!" 

"Which boy, Dad?" I yelled. 

"Jonathan!" 

The trouble is we do not have a Jonathan yet in the Gherkin lineup. I couldn't think of a Jonathan we know in town. 

BENNY! was at the door, and soon Charles and Danny joined him with Cory and Arielle. They brought me a chai latte!!!!  YES, they did. They said they thought Bachan needed some emotional support. How SWEET! They could tell by the blogs it would be hard and came to my rescue. We visited. Michael got up and joined us.  We started a rousing Church leader type discussion about leadership, vision, church growth and church structure by comparing all the churches we've participated in, chapels we've worked in, churches we are attending, pastors we've known and loved, men and women Michael supervised.  It was fun. Sometime in this conversation, Stacia got home from college and joined the conversation (she and Allie are taking a class on church leadership), Danny G (from MAG - the youth pastor) walked into the kitchen! May I say I absolutely LOVE IT when our people feel at home enough to just walk in the door! 

It was perfect timing for so many reasons.  Mary K, Michael's sister, had sent a couple of packages for Arielle's baby. I was able to pass them along. 

Arielle and Benny

Danny and Michael disappeared into the study. Michael proctors Danny's online college exams for him.  We continued our discussion for a bit and then CoRielle left.  OH! Benny was more than happy to take my dozen jumbo eggs home! He likes to see if there are double yolks when he makes breakfast. Yes, that little man can make perfect scrambled eggs. I have another dozen jumbo eggs tonight. LOL 

I had pulled loins out earlier to bake for tonight but realized it would be 8 p.m. if I went that route. It was 6:00 - 6:30....so we opted for a comfort dinner of nuggies and fries, and the loins are cooking low and slow. I'll reheat them for tomorrow's dinner. 

Krista called, and we had a fun conversation with her as dinner ended. 

Stacia and I are settling in to watch The Game Plan, and Allie will be home by 9 p.m. 

GRACE NOTES:

1. Kids who love me enough to show up with chai unannounced when they suspect I need to see their faces! 

2. I blogged - again! I'm re-establishing the habit. 

3. Friends that are family enough to walk in without knocking...we have several. 

4. Another 2.75 miles towards this month's goal of 50 miles.