Didn't See THAT Coming!

Most know our retirement from the Air Force Chaplaincy has not looked like planned - at all.

Michael's diagnosis of Parkinsons kept us from our plans to move to Japan as missionaries. His mother passed away. My mother passed away.

We were thrilled to move to Alaska...and the only thing we felt "sure" of in our spirits was we were going to "support a young pastor."

The hunt for a new church home was arduous. ::wink:: Michael visited Matanuska Assembly of God on a week when I was home. He came home and said, "I think this is the church and the pastor we were sent to support."  I visited the next week and agreed with Michael's assessment. The rest is history.

A year ago Michael was asked to become an elder.  This was a role we'd not considered, but after praying about it - it seemed right. Michael also leads Men's ministry. We host and lead a Life Group. We have been busy with counseling - together (a new thing for us after military ministry where I was not involved in formal counseling sessions) and I lead women's Bible study and am co-Director of Women's Ministry.

As we prepared for this business meeting I found myself reflecting. We are thankful for a church home where we are allowed to function in our giftings.  When so many doors were being closed to us, we had the sense ministry was not over for us, but it would look different than expected.

Today, we reflect on God's faithfulness. He is with us every step of this retirement /Parkinson's journey...and today, my heart overflows at being able to see a glimmering of why we are in the Matsu Valley rather than Northern Japan.

In December Pastor asked us to pray about pastoral staff transitions at the church. Today,  we step into a new role in our ongoing call to support our pastor...Michael was named as an Associate Pastor at Matanuska Assembly of God. Didn't see THAT coming when we moved out here.

As some of you will wonder...we are still licensed and ordained with Open Bible. We are not required by Assembly to change our credentials in order to be associate pastors. We have only found a one word difference in the denominations statements of belief...it's a good fit.

We are excited to see how God continues to plant us here in Alaska...

Fur Rondy 2020

Where  can you see a bear, in a tutu, wearing a tiara? 

Fur Rondy!  An 85 year Alaskan tradition. It is our state's largest winter festival, "with a schedule full of events that celebrate winter and life in the Last Frontier.

Krista joined her reserve unit in the Outhouse Races...that's right one of the Gherkins has been in an official outhouse race at Fur Rondy. We're official!

Stacia and Krista via Krista's photos

We got a late departure from the valley and missed the races, but Stacia went in early with Krista and caught them.

Michael and I caught up with BreZaak for lunch. We loved the chance to catch up on all the new things swirling around their lives. When we got home, Dad was ready to head for Fur Rondy. I was happy to see him wanting OUT....his feet have been hurting him. He wanted a selfie in front of our fake daffodils, but my arm isn't long enough to get the flowers in.

Doesn't he look cold? At this point he was still not sure he needed his coat. Later in the day he was happy I insisted. The snow boots were handy too. 

We headed for the ice sculptures. The judging isn't until Sunday a.m. We got to see many teams in the process of creating their sculptures. It was COLD...like 12*.

I found the clay models fascinating. 

The girls stepped into a store for Krista to get feeling back in her feet....ouch. When all were sufficiently warm, they met us over at the sculptures.  

Front - Me and Stacia
Back - Michael, Krista, G Dog

 On our way home we stopped at Alaska's oldest family restaurant. It is directly across from Merrill field - a small craft airport. Dad would like to come back on a clear day to watch the planes. Everyone enjoyed the food and the service was incredibly personal and friendly.

The men headed to Eagle River. They picked up CODY! We had asked for joint custody; Josiah rebuffed the proposal. He did, however, agree to let us have him for a few days this week.

The gals went shopping....and we all met up back at home in the valley...it was a great day. Cody was happy to see Stacia.

Resurrection Gardens

I am reading, "Uncovering the Love of Jesus: A Lent Devotional." In the first week's activities it mentioned a website with more resources and instructions for making a Resurrection Garden. The idea is to plant a little garden, complete with tomb....and watch it grow...roll away the stone and it's empty.... I thought it looked like a fun thing to do with the grands.

I went to Michael's to find things for THIS project - and was struck with daffodil memories....Michael was a good sport and cut a couple of these pots in 1/2 for me.

After we planted the flowers in the snowbank, we came back inside to make a Resurrection garden for Benny and for us.

None of us realized what a pick me up it would be to play in the dirt! I am going to have to begin seedlings soon. I may even set up a box of dirt just for Grands to play with when they visit. LOL 

As Arielle wrote, "Family: the perfect blend of chaos and love. 💗

Via Arielle

 Everyone got involved...and we told Benny the purpose for the craft....but mostly he liked dirt at this point...above is the moment I demonstrated "sprinkling grass seed" on the dirt....and below is Benny's idea of sprinkling.

Via Arielle

 Not to worry - we set up a garden for ourselves and took seed from Benny's garden...and he was a huge help in cleaning up the mess.

Via Arielle 

The instructions had said I'd be able to find the large stone for the tomb entrance and twigs to make crosses "easily" in the yard. I headed out the door and it hit me - not finding stones and twigs "easily" in our yard. ::snort:: I will search it out this week.

Stacia and I left for BreZaak's before CoRielle went home....this is always fun to see in the back up camera.

Helpful message that! 

We arrived early enough to play with Annie before they left for Alive Alaska. Look how big she is getting! 

We hadn't seen Bella and Gideon since Feb 9th and it was fun to see them! 

Bella, Stacia and I did a work out video while Gideon caught a nap. We had dinner, cleaned up and then we made a Resurrection Garden with them.

Bella was not sure about dirt and told me "Mommy doesn't like dirt inside." We swept it all up. LOL 

They loved the watering part. Bella promised to remember to water it every morning. LOL 

I am praying three little patches of grass grows.... It was a fun day.

PLANT NOW for Color All Summer

 There you have it! Expert gardening advice - and I didn't plant early enough for color last year..... PLANT NOW....

Um....this is my solution when faced with the reality of 4 feet of snow in the flower beds.

Via Arielle

I was happy to hit a buy one stem - get two stems free on spring flowers.  I waited eagerly for Bennie's visit. I knew he'd enjoy planting with me - and he did. Kimber left them alone after her first look at them....

Via Arielle

Via Arielle

I will let you in on the story behind this story. We moved into a Japanese neighborhood in 2009. We set about making connections with the farmer whose land bordered our yard...The kids helped his wife when she got stuck...and for the following four  springs...every FEBRUARY, the farmer brought me massive bouquets of daffodils. Our first sign of spring.  It seems every February I start to look for daffodils...and I miss being in Japan, our Japanese neighbor, and my heart begins to long for a country to which we are not called to return.  I can't tell you how much good it does my soul and heart to see these cheery daffodils in the yard. 

I still dream of spring time in Japan...and I will do my best to make it happen next spring.

Thursday with Benny

 Thursdays are our insanely busy day. Stacia and I begin the day with our personal Bible study, we're home by 1100 for her piano lesson, then Japanese at 2:00, dinner by 5:00 p.m. and Life Group at 6:30 p.m.

Arielle texted Wed night to ask if Stacia could either nanny for her on Thursday or if we could watch Benny as she nannied. She doesn't like to take Benny sick to work - obviously. It simply wasn't a good day for Stacia to work. She does love filling in for Arielle.

I didn't want GG exposed to a sick Benny - so I volunteered to come to their home. It was also much more comfortable for Benny. Stacia snuck in the car. LOL

As they watched "Monkey" - Curious George - I did a few things around the house to bless Arielle. Benny got the cleaning bug and went to town. 

"Mommy likes clean!"

Note her tree is still up! I love it. 

We had to take all the toys off the shelf so he could clean the shelves. 

Cleaning is hard work! 

 After lunch Benny painted a few pictures for my art gallery. I'll have to snap a photo or two when I have a breather.

"Baachan? I nap."

Sure thing! We hustled Benny off to sleep and the house was quiet...and Stacia and I talked through this week's study in the Beatitudes. We talked about a Biblical definition for meekness and how that applies to our lives.

Michael dropped by to be sure Stacia was home in time for her Japanese lesson. He had hoped to catch Benny, but Benny was still napping.

They drove off and I was SHOCKED....blessed quiet and peace. I had about 40 minutes of silence and solitude and it strengthened and renewed my spirit. I did some thinking, praying and journaling about leadership.

I got home around 3 p.m. - threw a loin and squash in the oven, steamed some asparagus and set about picking up. The house was clean and dinner on the table at 5. We were ready for our "lifers" to arrive...and we discussed Job....the tendency we have to hold on to our creed and our belief about what God should be like - rather than what He IS like.

It was a long day and, YET, it was an incredibly peaceful day. It was confirmation to thoughts I've been pondering about being yoked with Jesus and finding rest...and the principle of Sabbath.

Done!

Look what I invented -  a way to store lights without them turning into a tangled mess. LOL 

Yes, all the Christmas decor is finally packed up. The "crew" will put them up high in the garage tomorrow.  That means I got it done on Ash Wednesday.  Next...year I may well have a St. Patrick's or Lent tree. 

For now, I am happy to have the space back in the upstairs. I still can't find the stuff that usually sit on top of the step tonsu in the living room, top of my desk, mantle or the entry way tapestry.  CRAZY! Everyone has an idea of where they must be, but so far they haven't turned up in any of THOSE spots. LOL I may have to buy new fripperies. ::snort:: 

I just couldn't pack away all the Christmas lights.  I put lights in my nook - and it's perfect! 

I am happy to have a bit more space to set things. LOL 

DMV Appointments

We look like fugitives...but we got it done! In less than an hour we did a permanent renewal on a vehicle, changed a voter's registration, got a handicap placard, and applied for 3 Real ID's....I am sold on making online appointments. LOL

About those photos....it seems the federal government has mandated we can smile, but can't show teeth in Real IDs...Dad and Michael did fine.

We didn't get a photo they could use of me until the 4th try.

"Smile."

"No teeth. Let's try again. Now smile."

I finally suggested he quit telling me to smile. ::snort::

NSV (Non-scale victory)...I had to have them change my weight on my license....I'm 20 lbs lighter than when we moved here....and 40 lbs lighter than I was last March.