Errands....

YIKES! It's the 14th of the month! How did THAT sneak up on me? I woke this morning with the realization I'd not entered expenses, balanced the account, nor paid bills. However, the kids' work samples and grades are due tomorrow and I want them done TODAY.

TODAY is Dad Earl's 102nd birthday (though he's celebrating in heaven). Bre is due to have our sweet one at any time. I think if I take care of the work samples and finances today, I am available to go watch Bella and Gideon at a moment's notice.

Number one on the agenda was to send in work samples. I was making good time and done before noon.

Next on the agenda, pay bills.....it became apparent several bills were due TODAY.  We also have books at the library that needed to be picked up TODAY.

Stacia and I ran to the bank, post office, dentist, MTA , library, and Enstar.....My word - I had the funniest experience at MTA involving a room full of seasoned citizens and the need for them to take a class on live streaming  in order to enjoy their "new cable."  "Something is wrong with this world if a man has to take a class just to watch T.V."

On the way home we stopped at Three Bears for a few groceries to tide us over until I can carve out time for the monthly grocery trip.

Three bears is an uniquely Alaskan store. They sell big sides of meat cut to your specifications,  all kinds of traps, as well as bread, nails and peanut butter.  They sell some Kirkland brand things....a bit marked up. However, there is no annual fee and one doesn't have to drive to Anchorage to shop. 

We got everything done, had a bit of Mom/Daughter time in the mix, and got home in time to make dinner.  I think we are ready to settle in for the baby wait. 

A Full Sunday

We ended the evening at home with the kids, and the Eagle River Contingent (Josiah, Jamin and Larissa). You know it's a good game of Egyptian rat when the first aid kit is pulled out. 

You may remember Jared went to Juneau for what was thought to be a 3 week stint. He has been told to expect to be in Juneau for the entire legislative session. It will be 90-120 days. This reminds me of short notice deployment orders - back in the day - before deployments went to 190 - 200 - 400 days. Jared is learning much. This is a great opportunity for him. We were thrilled Larissa came out to spend the afternoon with us. We are praying for both of them as they face new challenges in the upcoming months. 

But before the games.....there was church....

Sweet Daisy is 2 1/2 months old and so expressive! Michael still has the "touch" with the young ones at church. 

Nolan met us for lunch, and then we headed home to meet up with the Eagle River Contingent.

Cory has been given a promotion! Yay Cory! The promotion comes with a raise and the designation of "full time." He's been working full time, but was hired as part time.  We love to watch God work out the details of his plans for the Gherkins. Cory and Arielle are working hard to finish up college. While Cory worked on school, Benny and Arielle came up to visit.  It's been fun to have a little one to play with the nativity this year.

Michael and I ducked out for a bit to go to a house warming for a young friend. Of COURSE, this would be the only picture I took of the event. ::snort:: It was yummy tea. Her home is beautiful, and it was pure joy to be part of blessing her home and thanking God for his guidance in her life.

 Back at home we played with boxes, face timed Jared, visited, and played games. 

Uncle Cy has ideas with the box....Benny approved ideas! 

 It was predictable. With all the new toys in the house, the box at the end of the hallway was destined to be the favorite toy. 

Uncle Jamin took over the plane rides

It was a full day. We continue to wait with BreZaak for the arrival of their new little blessing.

*Note it is my goal to get the Christmas decor down this week.....but things happen.

2019 Gift Exchange

Life seems to have settled down enough that we thought this afternoon would be the perfect time for our "family of 5" gift exchange. Alex and Michael had men's breakfast. Nolan was working until 2.  Stacia and I planned to go shopping, but in the end, we didn't have a vehicle. 

Not to worry - I am trying to get three blankets done for the kids... It seemed like the perfect time to get them done. They are like the double-sided flannel baby blankets we love - but I made these big-kid size.

Things were going well until this happened......ugh. Michael got it working when he got home, and I finished this one. I still need to make Nolan's.  It was CHANGING stitches on us....and then the bobbin plate popped out and it jammed tight. 

Ah, well...semper gumby! I have come to like our tree. It's not real, but a real one wouldn't look this nice, this late. We noted all the presents are wrapped in BLUE.

Alex loves computer and video games

ANOTHER expansion pack! 

Nolan likes board games 

The baby of our family continues to be the most expressive gift receiver....

100 one yard wonders....

Home Sewing Projects

Stacia and a neighbor friend in Japan used to spend hours making perfume from dandelions. I couldn't resist when I saw this kit to make roll on perfume.....

That face....priceless

A local thrift store went out of business in the spring. I purchased a couple of "grandma dolls." You know - the kind grandmas splurge for for their girls' collection. Stacia is happy. 

My "Baby's" blankets....Nolan can choose his size. Stacia wanted the narrower size. 

Food theme...cupcakes for Stacia and Japanese food for the boys

Another doll. She's a bride doll; we decided she must be bridezilla. 

Look at the pout! 

Michael got an ice-fishing pole...

And lots of Lowes cards....

HE PUT THIS IN HIS WISH LIST. I bought it. Some are shocked. 

THIS will dry food much quicker than the little one Mom G gave me... and I can buy more trays for it. It also has a temp control.

We ended the night reading and playing snow board kids....

They Built a Steam Engine

I was prepping for a busy day. Michael was talking with me. Around 0700 we had a good sized aftershock. While it was still building, I looked up and said, "We ARE having this meeting today even if this becomes a 7."

He laughed.

I left home at 0900 and didn't return until 5:00 p.m. (1700).  It was a full day of ministry. Our meeting, scheduled the same day as the quake is finally done!   Nolan and Alex had gone bowling with a couple of guys.

Stacia and Michael knocked it out of the park! They edited a narrative essay she'd written.

They applied her science lessons on buoyancy, pressure and steam power, and  built a little boat. Stacia informs me she is going to paint the boat pink, or at least add some flowers and such.

Manly looking - but it works

Stacia equipped the little boat with  a steam engine....it worked! 

Filling the reservoir with water

Lighting a little candle, which heats the water,
creates steam and powers the boat

 It sputtered to life and jetted around the tub. 

This is a short clip of the first attempt....I didn't catch the second run which was even more impressive.

The boys arrived home with stories of bowling and arcades.

We ate pizza - it IS Friday night.

 Michael sequestered himself to be sure he was ready for Men's group tomorrow morning. Nolan went to bed, he works at 0500 tomorrow.

Alex sat and played games on his kindle while Stacia and I watched some episodes from Season 5 of When Calls the Heart on Netflix.

"That was Fun!"

"That was fun!"

My heart is full. We've been on a 2 week break from the Life Group which meets in our home. Rose is still traveling, but everyone else was here. The discussion was convicting and challenging - Luke 14:25-35. What does it mean to be a disciple? What does it mean to count the cost? How do we count the cost of being a disciple? What's a disciple? Is being a disciple different from being a believer?  We've been admonished, by Michael, to "leave it on the back burner," until we study a few more parables.

Not our life group - photo via google photos

It was fun to listen to the conversations after the discussion time, and to consume Brenda's YUMMY blueberry scones. Stacia asked if we can get the recipe - great minds think alike.

Not Brenda's scone - but her's looked even better
Photo via google photos

Life Group - sixteen folks ranging from 13 - 80's.....and the youngest commented, "That was fun." This is church community at it's best. Relationships forming across generational lines. Newcomers to church, building relationships with "old-timers." College-age men connecting and making plans to get together. It didn't happen over night, it's been a year. For the first five - six months it was just us and one other couple.  It's a joy to see how God is forming us....and it's a reminder to enjoy it fully present. Life Groups will ebb and flow...splitting will happen (the week with 21 was full for our house - we couldn't sustain much more than that long term)...people will move (though not so frequently as they did in a military chapel)...but for this season, God has called us to do life together...and it IS fun.

Our Pet Moose

Alaska has to be one of the few places left where one can be sitting at the table, discussing ministry plans, and BAMMO! A moose comes to visit.   We've had moose since we moved in in Aug 2017.   Mama moose and her baby entertained us all summer/fall.....this is not Mama moose. 

THIS one, however, IS special. She's our PET MOOSE! Note her collar. She is being tracked by the Fish and Wildlife Dept. She has made our yard her home base for well over a year. She even poses nicely for photos after all this time. 

Yes, we realize she is a wild animal and we don't go near her, put out food for her, or let Yuuki go near her......she looks so much like a pet with her collar that we joke about her.

There are usually one or two more in the yard when she shows up. This was from the 7th.....she and another. Today, there were two younger ones on the other side of our house.

We do love Alaska. 

Random Bits & Pieces - That's a LONG flight to VA

When taking compost out in -15* temps, anything liquid will freeze before you reach the compost pile.  My girls (16 hens) are not appreciating this cold. at.all. They continue to bravely lay 12 - 15 eggs a day, and I check every few hours to avoid another dozen frozen eggs. 

Shortly into the day, this arrived.  Krista landed in Seattle and was settling in for her 5 hour layover. 

Bre reports that Bella needs tea in the morning with her breakfast. It makes me smile to see her enjoy the tea cup. 

We are sliding into our normal routine this week. For me, this meant getting out calendars and prepping handouts for our Jonah study, which we began this evening. There was also laundry and a bit of baking.

Alex and Stacia hit the books - hard!

At 4:25 p.m. EST, Krista finally landed in Raleigh NC.  After the drive to Lynchburg, she was reunited with her room-mates. Boxes....because Maria (2nd from left) has purchased a home and they will be moving.

When we had the truck checked by the mechanic, he noted a few things that needed to be done. We were able to get the amount for repairs and a bit more reduced on the price of the truck. Michael took the truck to Anchorage for repairs. It ended up taking much longer than he expected and he was in town all day. Josiah brought him back out to the valley as he was looking at a trailer out here tonight. If anyone is counting - this is the 3rd day in a row with a trip to Anchorage....and we'll be going to pick up the truck tomorrow. :snort:: 

I headed to Bible study. It's going to be good to share thoughts together from the book of Jonah. Stacia made pot pie for her and the boys.

It's been a full day - everyone is heading to bed. I blogged - therefore, I lived. ::snort::

G'nite all.