Elleira is Two Months Old!

It's such great fun to watch a baby's personality develop.  Will she be an introvert or an extrovert? Is she going to be laid back or a go-getter? Is she a morning person or a night owl? Is she a picky eater or a good eater (this one was always top in Grams' list)? We have loved getting to know Elleria Raelynn.

Ellie is loved by all, and she seems to love all in her world. Look at her eyes LIGHT up! She's a sweetheart!

What could possibly be causing such an adoring look of joy? Ah, Daddy and big brother. LOL 

Little Ellie is such a light in a hard season...much like her mama was a light born in a challenging time of loss for Michael and me. For years I had a photo of my uncle and Arielle (born on the day my uncle passed) together with the saying, "Babies are God's way of saying Life should go on." 

Yes, Ellie and her cousin Josi, have been such bright spots of joy in the midst of a hard season. I am incredibly thankful for the blessing of their lives...and 2 months already? 

I am being very conscious to spend as much time as possible with each grand in this season. They grow so fast. Getting to live in the same area as our grandblessings has been one of the biggest marks of grace in this season.

Finding Solutions

We found ourselves discouraged with the sheer number of projects around here we couldn't finish last year. We plan for this to be our forever home, we like living here, but if we can't keep the place up.... these thoughts have been rattling around our minds this fall, winter...and here it is summer again. Michael's health is not better. His back is worse and we're still fighting to delay back surgery as long as possible at the advice of his VA doctors. A couple of the kids have mentioned possibly moving into town with a smaller yard to keep up.  Lots to think about. We don't want to move. This is a great place for grands to come play, we like the quiet (most days), we don't want to deal with the work of moving "one more time." 

Over the winter Jamin paid for a neighbor to plow out our driveway. We were amazed how nice that was, how much work and pain it saved all of us - but mostly Michael. I began to think of what may be helpful in the spring/summer/fall. We weren't sure if we needed a landscaping company or a carpenter or WHAT...and we noted it is difficult these days to find young youth who want to work all summer on yards etc. 

We took a frank look at our position...Michael's health is worse, the workload around here doesn't lessen, BUT a new fact is Michael now receives Social Security disability, which he didn't receive last year. An idea was born. We COULD stay here if we found someone willing to work with Michael, or alone when Michael can't work - we needed to find a dependable handyman, one who knew how to do the things Michael wanted done without a lot of instruction, and one who we could trust and would work well with Michael. We kept considering how to find this man. 

Cory and Arielle have been coming over and mowing our lawn. For Mother's Day they prepped the garden spot for me. It would appear the solution was in front of our eyes. I suggested to Michael that maybe we wouldn't have to take our chances on Facebook ads. Maybe Cory would be willing to help a minimum number of hours a week for us.  Win WIN. Cory has been wanting to help but it's always a bit awkward to step into another's place and suggest they need to do x,y or z. ::snort::  Michael has someone he trusts, who we know is a hard worker, we know he knows how to do the various jobs Michael wants to tackle and Cory loves us. There is no judgment that we can't keep up.  And so...Cory came over today and he and Michael tackled their first project. 

Michael built a great big hoop house. The first year the weather destroyed most of it. We decided 1/2 of it was easily salvageable and Michael set it up over two of our existing garden beds. That winter the weather crushed it - though not as bad as the year before. Michael fixed it in the spring. Last winter he removed all the plastic and left the frame and chicken wire. We had thought the snow would fall through the chicken wire and it would all be standing in the spring. Enter lots of snow and WIND and.... the chicken wire was twisted and blown away, several pieces of the structure simply snapped...we laughed that the door was still latched and shut!

Michael and Cory collected all the pieces, got everything attached again, added chicken wire and began the process of covering it with plastic. Much of what we want to grow needs some sort of cover to keep it warmer than our typical summers. We have found our cucumbers love this set up. 

While they worked the boys helped me with a job and then played, Arielle and Ellie kept GG occupied, which he enjoyed, and I even had time to sit and visit while the men kept working. It truly was a win WIN. 

 The boys helped me haul 10 bags of dirt from my van to the garden. 

Arielle is the only one who can consistently get GG outside! 

This first week Cory let us know he is willing to work alone if Michael has an appointment or his back won't allow him to work as much as he'd like to work.  We are happy to have a solution.  I'm blogging from a few weeks in the future and the next week Michael was able to go to a chiropractor/massage appointment for his back, while Cory continued working on the always growing to do list. LOL 

Stacia's First Canning Project

Stacia loves lemon. About a month ago she made lemon curd for the first time. It was DELICIOUS!  She wondered about making a big batch up and canning it, when she was done with the semester and had time to play in the kitchen. College is done for the year. Stacia decided to attempt her first canning project.  She made 6 or 8x the normal size batch of lemon curd. 

I was on hand to show her how the canning equipment worked. It was a simple water bath - great first project. 

While the little jars of curd enjoyed their water bath the girls and I had a tea party. Scones, cream and lemon curd....good stuff.  This was an IMPROMTU party...

Do you remember the excitement of pulling your first jars from a canner! I felt instantly connected with generations of women before me...both my grams' were great canners and their mothers before them. 

Seven half pints of lemon curd

Every jar sealed! Sucess! This little treat now sits on the pantry shelves waiting for tea parties. 

The girls will soon be busy working - this was a great break! 

Our Family's Experience @ Impact Alaska 2024

Impact Alaska was one of Josiah's favorite events to participate in at ACF. This event began "some years ago" and has grown until there were six different church bodies, representing numerous campus' participating this year.  Basically, it's a planned day for the church to get out in its community and simply love and serve. Those who serve meet back at the church for a meal at noon. The Impact Alaska website says it best. 

Impact Alasa is a day of service to communities all over the state of Alaska. It's a day where churches from all over Alaska join together to cancel their regular Sunday services to go out into their communities to serve the needs of people in the name of Jesus. Every year, the churches in Alaska mobilize together in unity and go out of their door to serve their communities in many different ways. Over the years, it has looked like community cleanup projects, free oil changes for single parents, gas buy-downs for the community, making gift baskets for first responders, minor repair projects in people's home, and so much more. 

The hope is to make it in Alaska as in heaven by the way we serve and love people. 

I believe Josiah and Carrie had participated for four years. The rest of us were always a bit envious when Josiah and Jamin talked about Impact Sunday. This year we looked forward to joining, because we believe in the vision AND to do something Josiah loved as a way to continue to honor him and his legacy. 

As the day approached everyone was signing up for various teams. Luke was in high demand with his plumbing skills. Jared led a team which helped a shut in with some projects around her home. Larissa watched children at the church.  Jamin and Krista joined Jared's team...and then Krista traveled. SHE HAD A RAKE. 

Jared, Jamin, Krista 📷from Krista

Carrie, Jess and Liv provided hospitality at the church for the oodles of oil changes they gave away to the community.  

Carrie, Josi, Liv and Jess 📷from Carrie

Our household had a hard time finding a fit. We needed something which GG could do or where he wouldn't be bored and wander off.  It began at 0800 in Eagle River, and that created a few obstacles with getting everyone up and on the highway in time.  The entire family worked on a solution...would one of us stay home with GG and the rest go, could we get him comfortable for 4 hours? We weren't coming up with a good plan. 

CoRielle and children signed up with a local church which was participating in our community. They had several projects going on.  Joining a team in the valley would cut down our commute time and make it more doable, and we loved the idea of serving our community. In the end the girls were coming off a horrendously loaded week at college, Michael didn't feel 100% and they all slept in on Impact Sunday. I joined a team in our community with Church on the Rock.  The team leader was welcoming and it was the same one CoRielle had volunteered to help. The team picked up garbage and leaves at a favorite local park.  Arielle, the boys and I got involved in painting the park structure. It was four hours of FUN. My only regret is wearing a new hoodie as I didn't know I'd be painting. The girls tell me the paint is a, "whole vibe."  OK - lots of photos as I took some and Arielle sent me a bunch. 

Freshly painted

Charles & Danny help Arielle pick up garbage

Ellie was an angel @ her 1st Impact Event

Filling in the holes under the swings....raking out wood chips 

Kids play here! 

Arielle and me

Arielle snapped this photo...best Bachan ever, painting with infant in hands. LOL 

Benny, Bachan and Ellie 📷from Arielle

Go Danny! 📷from Arielle

Everyone enjoyed helping. It was quickly apparent I would provide more hands-on help for Charles. 

Charles & Bachan - 📷from Arielle

So MUCH fun! 📷from Arielle

Here is some info shared from ACF - remember we were ONE of the churches participating. Communities across AK were impacted. 

We Alaska! God worked through every single one of you today to remind this community that they are loved and valuable! Here’s some of what we are celebrating…

- 115 oil changes

- Chugiak Senior Center landscaping with 100+ serve team members

- 117 cars through the gas buy down

- 700+ serve team members mobilized

- ARCH Youth Center project with @youthculture_acf

- Mountain View Elementary project in Anchorage

- Churches from all over the state joining

And so much MORE!!! We are so thankful to get to be a part of seeing it be in Alaska as in Heaven.

This was a great day! There are obvious benefits for the community - but so many for participants as well. I enjoyed chatting with the other members of my team and sharing the meal afterward. If we'd gone to Eagle River this would have been a way to make connections with our church family. It felt GREAT, however, to be meeting a need in our local community!!! It made great memories for the kids...they will remember serving when they play at this park. I believe it is beneficial for generations to serve together and I am thrilled to have made these memories with our grandchildren. 

Could it be done at a time other than during Sunday morning service? Sure.  Is it just a big church gimmick? NO!!!!  The event provides a clear image of the FACT the CHURCH was never meant to be a building filled with nicely dressed pretty people which gathers at 1100 (or 0800 or 1030) on Sunday morning. The church is us, people, loving and serving others.  The act of leaving the church building to serve and calling it WORSHIP is powerful!  I believe it sparks something which has created the culture of serving and love which we've benefitted from these past 7 months at ACF. 

This can be fairly "cheap" or it can be a significant budget item for a church...gas buy downs, oil changes aren't cheap....picking up garbage, doing yard work for a shut in is budget friendly. There were small churches and largish churches participating. 

Our family has helped our community in unseen ways before this and will continue. I also know that for many, this was the first taste which will lead to continued service throughout the year.  I could hear people talking about other projects a group their size could tackle in the valley. We talked about how good it would be for a life group to have a community project once a quarter. It's good to put hands and feet to the doctrines we profess to believe, and this is one of the ways several churches in Alaska have chosen to do this. 

Stacia and I topped the day off by going to Eagle River to spend the night with Carrie and the girls. Larissa and Noah dropped by for a visit. Look at sweet Noah plant a kiss on Josi. 

Noah is 1 yr 4 months

Hello, Willow. 

Any day that ends with baby smiles and snuggles is a great day - this one was extra special. 

Josi at 3 1/2 months

May's Family Gathering

We gathered today to celebrate Gideon, Izaak and Arielle's birthdays and Jared and Larissa's (JaRissa) anniversary.  It was a fun day! Izaak and Carrie and the girls couldn't make it due to work.  JaRissa had campaign engagements. Jenni was in MO...and Jamin was supposed to be in MO but ended up being in AK...we flex. It's ALWAYS fun to gather with whoever can make it. 

Nolan and Alex surprised me by showing up early and helping Michael get the trampoline set up. Winter is OFFICIALLY fully and truly over. This trampoline was gifted to the cause by Jamin. It has a net. Recognizing there are two schools of thoughts on the safety of nets, we let our moms decide which they wanted. LOL 

Nolan, Michael, Alex

Reno (KrUke's dog) watched over all the happenings and made sure all the kids were safe and happy.

The kids were quick to discover the trampoline. 

Charles and Benny

Charles

Stacia and the boys

Danny

Charles is an exhilarating driver

Jojo, Nolan and Gideon 

Nolan with a passel of kids

It is so much easier to have EVERYONE over when we can sit outside and inside, and the kids can run to their heart's desires. 

Jamin, Bre and Trudy, Krista, Luke

Everyone brought their main "thing" to grill, I provided sides and desserts, and Cory and Nolan took over all the grilling! It was a great plan! 

Time to gather around the island, sing, blow out candles and eat the various ice cream cakes. This month there were 3...2 full size ones and a small Lactose intolerant cake. 

I love the fact that Annie and Bennie are caught singing. Danny loves to belt out the birthday song too. In fact, they went to a party recently and the boys weren't sure why everyone sang Happy Birthday wrong. LOL 

Just like that Gideon is 7. Time is flying!