Stormy Sundays

 We went to bed last night with no power. Michael stayed up until 6:30 a.m. feeding the fire, our source of heat. 

The power was on when I got up. It went out within 30 minutes. I sat in the dark for a bit. Then I decided to light a lamp.  My thought was to pay our bills, but I needed the computer and there was no power for the router. 

 We still had no water so I began to melt snow to get the water for the animals. I got a bigger pot and it took three of them to get what I needed. I also made a piece of toast on the stove. LOL 

The power came back on around 11 and has flickered on and off but mostly stayed on. It is wild here. The sound of the wind is getting old. The doors and windows rattle. At times it sounds like a baby crying, or whistling, and at other times like an approaching train. Millie has gone crazy trying to protect us from all danger today.  The advisory has been extended to tomorrow. 

Inspired by a couple in our neighborhood who take a daily walk - regardless of the weather - I decided to do the same this year. I was NOT going to have my goal smashed on day 2 of the year. I decided I could at least go to the end of the block and back - 1/4 mile. I was feeling pretty smug as I started out. It was 4* and it felt much warmer to me than it has lately....but that wind chill factor they mention - whew - I felt it when I turned a corner. Next I noticed a creaking sound and decided it was trees. I slid my way back home...1/4 mile. I need to buy some yak tracks so I can wear my New Balance instead of snow boots. 

The power came back on and I raced for the shower. These disbelieving young adults didn't think it would stay on....I took an RV shower and got out with power still on. Next, I flushed all toilets. Then I filled all buckets with more water...and some drink containers. I am prepared if we lose power again tonight. 

Look at this brilliant flower! Two blooms. I am guessing we'll get four blooms. 

I have been trying to make a chewy sugar free cookie. I use monkfruit - they are always dry. THESE worked.  I suppose there is a bit of an aftertaste, but they are sugar free, and Dad keeps snitching them (he doesn't know they are sugar free) so I know they are good.  I need to write down the recipe before I forget what I did. Tomorrow. 

Even though we had power we spent the afternoon in the living room, mostly reading. Stacia is reading "A Separate Peace," by John Knowles, Michael is reading "Spawn of a Recluse," by Stacia, Allie is reading "Maze Runner," by James Dashner, Alex is playing video games, Grandpa is reading the newspaper, I am reading "Enemy at the Gates (Vince Flynn series)," by Kyle Mills and Millie is reading over our shoulders. 

It was nice to spend a quiet afternoon together even though we DID have power. No one was rushing to turn on the screens...well, I guess Alex was on a screen, but he WAS upstairs with us. 

Michael ran to the church to drop off some heaters for Shannon and Lindsey, while I made some yummy cauliflower soup and Allie made quesadillas. The girls have to taste test for me. It seems since covid I don't taste the finer hints of spices. I kept putting nutmeg in and couldn't taste it. They finally told me it was ENOUGH. Salt is about the one spice I taste well. LOL

We are going to attempt an episode of, "Lost in Space." Last time we tried this the power went out for hours and hours. LOL 

The Elephant in the Room

Allie Joy and Anastacia Joy (Stacia) continue to explore things they enjoy doing together. Running doesn't seem to be a winner, painting has potential... Allie has been with us for nearly eleven months. 

We certainly never looked to be Bonus Parents in 2021. When Allie moved in, we expected her to be with us a few weeks or months. I think we all guarded our hearts in the beginning. As time goes on, we've decided to live out our family vision to love courageously, and we will deal with goodbyes when/if the time comes. The joy and love of connecting will outweigh the pain of goodbye - it always has before. We've never regretted connecting deeply with others - even knowing a goodbye may be in the future.  

For now, we love. Allie blesses our family in many tangible and intangible ways.  Stacia loves having a "seester" to share her room, Allie moved in February 15, 2021, just a few months before Krista's wedding.  The grands find it great fun to have a new Auntie.  Together, the girls have the courage to conquer social awkwardness and have started organizing youth group social gatherings. Together, they've battled anxiety and are both becoming beautiful young ladies.  It has blessed our hearts to see the elder Gherkins unquestioningly embrace Allie. 

Moving in with a multi-generational family like ours can be daunting. Allie has done so with courage and a determination to move towards what God has for her life. Her drive to catch up in school has given all of us new zeal for home education.  Her courage to continue moving forward, forgiving, loving, healing has inspired us all.  She is a young woman of integrity. Many I've known in 30+ years of ministry wear injustice as a badge and share their grievances far and wide.  Allie doesn't because she has a vibrant relationship with her heavenly Father and seeks to please Him even with her pain.  Allie is quite simply precious to us, not because of a single thing she does, but because of who our loving God created her to be. 

We are aware we bless Allie. What people don't seem to grasp is Allie blesses our lives.  Loving her is not noble, it's not an outreach project or missional ministry. Loving Allie is a response to God unexpectedly placing her in our family through a phone call one Saturday morning in February. We have no idea how long Allie will be in our home, we KNOW she will always be a part of our family. We have given her our hearts; she has trusted us with hers. 

Our family vision - "Love God Wholeheartedly, Love Others Deeply," in other words Love Courageously. It's been our vision as a young family, through our military ministry, into civilian ministry, and God simply put us into a new classroom in 2021.  It's been a blessing to see how well our Gherkins, both young and old, have caught the vision to love courageously. 

This spring when Allie began showing up on the blog many of you assumed she was "just" Stacia's friend. You have seen her at weddings, around campfires, learning to drive, at lakes and dip-netting. It was a fair assumption; one we were happy with as we thought she would be with us short-term.  We barely knew Allie - I'd say we were acquaintances. By fall, many were asking questions for which we simply didn't know the answers, nor did we know how to address the questions. This was part of the reason we quit blogging for a few months. For those who have been concerned we have put ourselves in legal danger - thanks for your loving concern. We did not coerce or "rescue" a child. We agreed to welcome a young lady (16 at the time) into our home when her mother called and asked us to do so.  We have not kept her here against anyone's will. We have had several sessions with a lawyer to make sure we are not doing anything illegal. We seek to honor the legal rights of all involved parties. 

We have been reluctant to share much of our recent family life, but it's time to live unapologetically. Our goal is not to hurt anyone - but this is our life. This is what it looks like in this season. Yes, you have noticed correctly, our family has grown this year.  I noted as I published the fall months that Allie is HERE, and I can't post without posting Allie. As with any of our children, you can be assured she will approve what I say about her and/or her situation. She has also been given FAIR warning - "Smile when the camera comes out because if you look goofy in the only photo - it's fair game to post." ::snort:: In other words, we've discussed the blog thing with her, and how we handle it safely. 

This is Allie's story. She will decide how, when, and where she shares her story. If you are local and have questions beyond this, ask Allie. Of course, she has the freedom to decide if you are invested in her life and need answers or if you are simply curious and she would rather not provide details. I've watched her navigate this maze with wisdom and grace.  If you've not had a personal talk with Allie in 5 years (or ever), you are probably not invested in her life. 

This is my attempt to explain how Allie's story intersects our story, and how it has produced blessing to both her story line and ours. 

This post started to be about two young ladies working together on a painting. As I observed them each painting the numbers on their side, staying in the spaces mapped out for them before they began to paint, contributing their part to what turned out to be a beautiful painting, this post wrote itself. Michael has encouraged us often this year to "keep the big picture in sight" and "play for the big picture."  The purpose of this post is not to share every detail of Allie's life or every detail of why she is living with us. The purpose of this post is to address the elephant in the room. The photos illustrate what has been happening on a larger scale with Allie and us. We are painting in our spaces; others are painting in their spaces, and we believe God is going to make something beautiful from all these strokes within the spaces where we each paint.  As I began to back publish blogs, we began to receive even more private messages. 

"Who is Allie, why is she living with you, how can we pray?" 

"What a blessing you are in Allie's life."

And most recently, "Why are you consenting for surgery?"

Allie is a young woman for whom we were asked to provide a home. We have.  

You can pray Jesus uses this situation for His purposes. Isn't it true His working doesn't always look as we expect it to look? 

I consented for surgery as her parents had the foresight to give us a medical consent ten and half months ago. We contacted her parents when we were aware this would be more than a routine doctor visit. 

 Yes, we are humbled to be called to love and bless Allie, but it is also true she loves and blesses us daily. Allie is not a project, she's a young woman we love.  We are playing for the big picture. 

Every Good Story Begins with a Storm

Every good story begins with a storm, it is fitting for 2022 to open with a storm. I believe 2022 is going to be part of a very good story.  

And we have a storm! 1 - 2 inches of snow was predicted. This is what we woke to, significantly more than 2 inches, 7- 8 inches.  In addition to snow, we have ice and wind gusting to 75mph. 

On days like today, I am grateful for all the windows Wayne and Cynthia built into our home. We sit inside, warmed by the woodstove and watch the snow blow and swirl from every direction. It is the closest we will come to living inside a snow globe. It's magical. 

The white swirls are blowing snow

Michael is slated to preach tomorrow. He was heading into the church to find a quiet place to put the finishing touches on the message when we got a text from Pastor. The parking lot was an ice rink.  The snow and wind is predicted to continue and so we are not going to meet in person this Sunday. Sanding is pointless - it would blow away. 

The power flickered on and off all day, finally going off in our area around 7 p.m. We are well prepped for power outages.  I have several kerosene lamps - one from when we lived in Liberia.  They are not simply decorative. 

We have a woodstove, candles, flashlights and headlamps. Our only real concern is our well water pump requires electricity. We have a few cases of drinking water and are heating snow to get water for flushing. Showers are non-essential. 

Alex and Grandpa went to bed. Nolan was still working. The girls, Michael and I sat in the living room until around 10 and shared memories inspired by other weather events. Michael stayed up to keep the stove going until I got up at 6:30 a.m. (Jan 2nd).  The lights came back on for 30 minutes, went back out, came back on....I suspect Jan 2nd is going have a lot of flickering. 

Michael reads Stacia's novel 

What about that first line? Will 2022 be a good story? Yes, it will.  It's started not only with a storm but with our long-awaited Amaryllis blossom. 

Was 2021 a good year? Yes, it was.  

Was 2020 a good year?  Yes, it was.  

God has been sovereign in every year. All years have valleys and mountains, challenges and celebrations. God has been faithful, His presence is constant, He is the good shepherd who goes before us in all terrain. 

Stacia points out there was an entire generation that lived through World War 1,  a pandemic, the Great Depression and World War 2....and kept a sense of optimism alive. 

We've had years before with miscarriages, earthquakes, death...and not felt the doom and gloom which so many freely express about 2020 and 2021. 2021 was HARD. We lost family members to Covid. Inflation is up, supply chains are stressed. We feel all the stresses the media gleefully or reluctantly reports.  I think, collectively, we have focused on the bad, the hard, the challenges to the exclusion of the good and the faithfulness of God. 

In 2021 we lost family members. We also gained family members. We had 2 weddings. Krista and Jamin both took big career steps. Nolan began college and is knocking it out of the park. All our grandkids are healthy. Dad caught Covid in 2020 and hasn't caught it since. Michael's Parkinson's is stable. 

So much of our outlook is determined by what we choose to focus on. I made a conscious choice in September to quit focusing on my fear and to instead believe God holds and counts my days and knows what each day will bring. 2021 was not bigger than God. I will walk with him, in wise, discerning faith-not fear. I will step away from the media reports, the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds and focus on what I know to be true. I will take every thought, or at least more thoughts, captive to the Lordship of Jesus. God writes this story, He is not frustrated or surprised by the plot line or twists... He works in ways which often surprise. When I am frustrated, frightened and surprised by the plot twists, I will consciously choose to seek His presence and to observe where He is at work in the situation. 

I am confident 2022 is going to be a great chapter in God's story. As all good stories do, this one begins with a storm. 

It's ironic our power has gone out again and I will not be able to save or publish this. ::snort:: 

Our Amaryllis - Uncle Bill's Treat

 My Uncle Bill loved Amaryllis'. He bought a bulb every Christmas season and we'd watch to see if it would bloom before Christmas. When we moved to Hardin, he began bringing us a bulb each year. One for us and one for "Grams." We all loved watching them. 

Uncle Bill died the day Arielle was born...obviously, years ago. I found myself this year missing him, those days when we lived in Hardin, the brief time when Mom and Dad came home and lived there before Grams passed away. 

Michael came home one day in November with an amaryllis bulb. We kept it moist and watched as it grew and then began to bud.  It didn't bloom by Christmas - but look - a bit of color. 

I don't think any bloom could be watched for and waited for more eagerly than this one has been. 

Dec 25th 

Dec 27th 

Dec 28th 

Dec 29th

Dec 30th - getting close! 

Dec 31st

We woke this morning to the first bloom! Happy New Year! Welcome 2022. 

Jan 1st

I expect it will be spectacular in a few more days...and maybe I'll have to add a few more pictures...but I had to share this sight today. 

Jan 2nd - I think we're going to get four blooms

January 3

January 5th 

Look at this...four blooms on Epiphany. It's now fully blossomed. 

I'm so glad Michael bought this this year. It's been fun to remember past Christmas'. It's been a silent memorial to Grams and Uncle Bill.  AND it's such a bright note of color and hope as we went through the New Year's storm....I won't update this post again now that it's fully blossomed. 

Snow, Pizza, Gingerbread & Fireworks

 This is going to be a long post. I know my propensity to get STUCK on events with lots of photos. Last year I didn't post the gingerbread competition for MONTHS.  I have determined I WILL get this done...even if it isn't perfect.... I posted the competition photos last night...determined not to break faith with the oh-so-competitive-gherkins. 

It is now Jan 1st, 2022...though I will post this to show 12-31-21. I have spent time with Jesus. Alex had to go to work but not one other person has manifested, and it is 11:03 a.m.  I downloaded adobe on my laptop. I tried to figure out the program. I need a person to sit with me, I think.  BUT I am going to post today! 

Here goes! New Year's Eve! I don't know WHY it took me so long to realize wearing a headlamp would make the morning chores so much easier! 

Grandpa and Michael slept in. Stacia went shopping with CoRielle for gingerbread team supplies. Allie and I worked on caramel corn. My sugar free batch was horrendous. 

We love NYE.  Carrie had to work...and JaRissa are in Juneau. Everyone else dropped by at some point of the night.  Josiah and Liv arrived first. Josiah was sweet enough to promptly help Michael attack the ice in the driveway. Pickaxes y'all. It's serious. 

Unfortunately, it snowed all night and it's going to be a mess today (Jan 1st).  CoRielle arrived next. 

Millie checking out Danny

Jamin showed up next. About the time Bre and the kids arrived it was time to put Millie downstairs. There was too much activity and too many people. Izaak had a party he had to attend at True North and didn't make it. 

Danny & Annie ignore the chaos

We had a dinner of pizza and quite an array of munchies set out for the night. After eating, the first order of business was the GINGERBREAD COMPETITION. 

Guy's Team

Girl's Team 

Liv & Bella were big helpers

These two were also interested in EATING gingerbread pieces. 

As the night wore on Gideon and Benny got tired of helping the big guys. Bre had brought little gingerbread house packets. We had looked for little kits in the stores and they were out. THESE were self-adhesive which are WONDERFUL. I plan to order more for next year.  The boys and Annie and Bre and I sat down to work on them. Eventually Bella and Livie put one together too. 

Gideon is very detailed and deliberate

I had just said to Benny, "Where is the best place to put this one?" Speaking of the yellow dot he's holding. This is the look I got. Then he put it on my nose....

love that spark

Annie's house was beautiful

Sporting our dots

It appears the dots are contagious.

Santa, Benny.

Very colorful gingerbread man 

Luke, Krista and kids stopped by about 7:45 p.m. 

Around 8 p.m. everyone began to bundle up to go outside. Michael started a fire in the fire ring.  Jamin, Josiah and Michael had shoveled more around the fire ring, out the back door, and a nice spot for a table with fireworks. This year Michael and Josiah bought about a 1/3 less fireworks.  It was still an hour and a half of fireworks. LOL 

Dad decided he didn't want his feet to get cold. The past week has proven we have to keep an even closer eye on Dad. He's ignored the "safety rules" a few times and we can't just "run out" and trust he'll be o.k. I know he wants to do away with the walker...but he keeps falling because he takes every opportunity to ditch it...trying hard to keep him safe and yet not develop an adversarial relationship. This is probably one reason family's choose alternate care for their aging loved ones. No one likes being the heavy.  All that to say I stayed inside with him.  After the first round of fireworks, Gideon came inside with us. 

In a bit more time Cory came in with Danny. He worried about making Danny hate fireworks as he wasn't enjoying them....so he stayed in with Dad and Gideon and I got to go outside. 

After about 45 minutes or so, Bre, Annie and Jojo came inside.   Luke and the kids came in and kept Millie company.  The fire is essential. 

Livie and Allie

Livie, Allie, Luke, Rylan, Kaylyn, Krista, Stacia, Arielle

Each child was paired with an adult. 

Stacia and Bella

Arielle and Benny

Allie & Livie

The snow and fireworks were magical

Bre & Jojo - the 12m snow suit happens to be pink; he rocked it!

My boyfriend

Cory and Benny - Great smiles!

Stacia, Allie, Livie, Danny & Arielle

Luke & Rylan

Bella, Annie (face plant?), Bennie

Sparklers are magical -📷byArielle

📷byArielle

I have come to really enjoy our New Year's Eve fireworks. We can do them at our speed. When we get cold we can go inside and warm up. The fire and snow add a magical touch. It's a good thing.