A Full Friday

 The day began once again at the cafe; this morning with Allie. We also had a fantastic conversation. Some weeks things click better than others - I am going to label the conversations we had this week as heart discussions, more than simply the informational or even the theological. Good stuff. 

Allie and I stopped at the parsonage on the way home.  We sprayed down oven racks and tubs and checked to see what supplies were on hand and what would need to done later. 

Check out the NEW SNOW. Yep. It's raining at our house, but snowing on the mountain behind us. In JUNE. This can NOT be termination dust, I refuse to think summer will be over in 6 weeks. I like what others are calling it - another fake spring...in June. 

Stacia had some college papers to write. Allie prepped for work. I played with a new electric frother and Keurig the church purchased for us to use in our greeting/coffee ministry. This is a step up from the single size, no reservoir Keurig we've been using. Yes, I know, some of you have espresso bars at your churches...we started with what we have...and the emphasis is on the friendly greeting...not the coffee anyway. I've noted some stop just to chat and never get a drink. Which we love. 

Stacia and I went back to the parsonage for a few hours. We are simply sprucing things up...we will have a new pastor's family at some point....and this is a good time, with no one living in it, to get any needed repairs or maintenance done. 

We reached a point where we didn't have energy to tackle the next job - the entry way....and called it a night. We hadn't eaten and thought about going to McDonald's. We thought the lobby was open until 10 p.m. so we opted to go to the end of Benny's t-ball game before dinner. 

📷by Larissa

Danny was the first to see us park and made a break for the parking lot yelling, "Bachan's here." Jared, Larissa and Noah were also at the game. This was a bonus. We didn't think we'd make it to the game with all the other things we are trying to do this weekend. 

Jared & Noah 📷by Larissa

In a few years we'll be at Noah's t-ball games! Time moves quickly. 

Aunt Stacia and Noah

We joined JaRissa for dinner after the game. We "never" eat at McDonald's because, well because. We thought it would be fun to surprise Allie. The lobby was closed. We went on over to Dairy Queen.  It was fun to catch up with Jared and Larissa...and to know how better to support them in prayer in the upcoming weeks. 

I don't think I could have fit one more thing into this day. In fact, I had to move delivering eggs from today to tomorrow. LOL 

June! How?

June! How did THIS happen?  It's another rainy day around here. I'm starting to wonder if we're going to get a "real" summer.

Stacia and Allie switched study mornings because Stacia and I had haircuts late this morning.  This allowed Allie to sleep in, us to run our errands and as she is off today she can get more sleep before getting up early to go out. This weekly one-on-one time with the girls is priceless. We had a brilliant discussion today, though we didn't do a Bible study. We integrated a lot of different strands from LIFE. 

We also scored a Tiger Spice to bring home for Allie and this month's salad special. They were taking a picture of it and asked if we'd like to take it home. Y'all go to Sophia's and have this salad! It's yummy. 

Stacia and I had time to run to Walmart after study before our haircuts, so we picked up a curtain rod (and a few surprises for a special gal).  Michael is such a good Dad. He stopped everything and got the curtain rod up....

I like these lighted panels - the finishing touch the girls were waiting for in their room. 

This came QUICKLY...yes, I've avoided the colonoscopy once again. I did the Cologuard years back and agreed to do it again...when I figure out the mailing thing from AK to wherever it is going. 

Shannon and Lindsey dropped by this afternoon. We happened to all be home - and it simply did our hearts good to see their faces... Stacia made some cookies. We opted for pizza and games tonight as it's the night Allie is home from work.  You know - I do my best with the subjects I have around here. LOL 

This just in from Larissa! What a sweet baby boy. 

The day was a great reset before the start of a busy weekend. 

Community and Chicks

Shew - some days don't flow as easily as others do. I am content. It doesn't all have to be done in a day. Today was filled with cleaning, baking, troubleshooting, table fellowship, community and chicks on the move. 

 After I got dad up and through the morning routine, I mopped all the floors while he read the paper.  

I spent a considerable amount of time troubleshooting and researching why a webpage I was working on had disappeared. By the end of the day, it was figured out and fixed...and I felt good about the whole process. LOL 

In the meantime, I baked scones and cookies. I did NOT make it to the store and will need to do that tomorrow.  I have been using about 4 different scone recipes and today I played with the recipe a bit more. Stacia said these are good. I think I'll add some zest in the future. I think I could do a variety of fruits...and I could do some cinnamon or maple or pumpkin spice...but I'm getting it figured out. LOL 

Stacia and I got dinner on the table for Mike and Dad and then we went to Ceceilia's for the night. Five of us sat around her table for a couple of hours. I loved it. We ate scones & cookies, drank hot drinks, and talked....laughed a lot too. I was glad Stacia joined us...she's in the process of transitioning from youth to women's group.

Michael had been building a home in the garage for the chicks. We moved them from their Kiddie Pool brooder out to the garage.  They are five weeks old. We've never had a noisier batch of chicks...and we usually have 24 chicks at a time. LOL 

Their new space is bigger. They have a big feeder and waterer - which will save time for us. I don't think they will be able to tip these over. Michael also put the heat plate and a small roosting bar he made for them in the box.  The top has a frame covered with chicken wire to keep them in the box. 

And that is ALL we got done today.  It's been raining all day so I've not planted anything more...and that is starting to bother me. LOL  It's so QUIET tonight in the house...no scratching and cheeping and pecking...

Alaska's Coolest Bathroom and More

I'm sure you have been dying to see the coolest bathroom in Alaska. LOL  The boys told me the hall bathroom is THEIRS...and Cory and Arielle are obviously running with the idea....a Dinosaur bathroom. 

Yes, today I spent a few morning hours with "the boys." They keep me on my feet. It's fun to be a Bachan revisiting, remembering what it's REALLY like to have a houseful of little ones. Fun memories...today we had "coffee" which was really peppermint tea and then we were off and running.  First, they showed me the new artwork in the Rec Room. Each boy painted one - and I think they did a wonderful job! Benny explained the process to me. 

Little Buddy was more interested in playing with hot wheels than in exploring the world of art. LOL 

Danny's priceless face! Benny is behind him, and is applying a tattoo to his belly button. He is holding a cold wipe on Danny's tummy. 

He wanted to give me a tattoo and I allowed him to - but not on my tummy. LOL 

All the stuffies had to fly off the top of their play structure....and it was quite fun to take turns being buried in stuffies. 

They know what they're doing. They hardly ever fall. They LOVE this. This is going to make winters so much nicer. I think. I may have to come play in their Rec Room next winter.  Which by the way - there was new snow on the mountain we live by this morning. In the fall we'd be calling it termination dust...at this point...shoot...we've just gotten spring. 

Little Buddy, Benny and I heard singing...and found Danny singing what sounded like Hallelujah in the hallway. 

This is fantastic. Benny told me it's his summer school. They planted a seed and now you can view the roots, the water, the greenery...and they put some obstacles in the way to watch how plants grow around them. 

All too soon Arielle was home, and I was off for a brief stay at my home. I got a few things done and it was time for me to run to my doctor's. My labs were so much BETTER than I expected! My A1C has come down and is 1 point below the pre-diabetic cut off now. My cholesterol has come down though there is still room for improvement. All the vitamins and such were in order. My thyroid levels are fine. The only alarming thing is that I have somehow lost 1 1/2 inches. Seriously. I asked how I could go from 5'4" to 5' 2 1/2" in 6 months. No answers....just an assurance that I am not 5'4". We'll see. I DID lose 12 pounds in the same time....but at this rate I am never going to reach a healthy BMI...losing weight while losing inches is not a good strategy. LOL 

A local store called and asked if I had any counter eggs to sell them. I took 4 doz to them. I'd sold everything over the weekend....but had a few dozen. I think I'll spend my $$ on buying goodies from their greenhouse. LOL 

It's been a busy day. I'm tired. Projects I'm working on are not going as seamlessly as I'd like them to go...these crazy hens are determined to sit in this nesting box. There weren't even eggs under them. 

Lindsey sent me a couple of pictures this evening! What fun to see some of my favorite people in the world in one photo. LOL  Trudy is at such a fun age! 

Lindsey, Bre & Trudy📷by Lindsey

All the kids 📷by Lindsey

Free - What?

 I shared this photo on May 23rd. I had driven by this for a few weeks and laughed each time. 

I was so glad to have caught this before the trampolines were cleared away. The sign says, "Free Trampolines." 

I drove past on my way to CoRielle's and was surprised to see an amended sign. 

Someone in the neighborhood has a great sense of humor. LOL 

Noah's New Discovery

 This little doll has discovered his tongue. LOL 

Thanks, Larissa for keeping me supplied with fun photos to share! Noah is 4 months old now! He loves the swing at Bachan's but I live about 35 minutes from their home. They needed a swing in their own backyard. LOL 

A Sweet Day

Nathan, Jennifer, Me, Arielle, Benny, Chaplain G
📷by Jennifer

We're off the beaten path up here and we don't often get friends from our military life "dropping in." Imagine our excitement when we found out Nathan and Jennifer are going to Eielsen AFB to "mc" a retirement ceremony. I'm hoping their camera produced a clearer shot than this one- and I'll sub it if it does. Ah, the memories. We thoroughly enjoyed catching up, talking about retirement, hashing out the best way to reach our culture and the younger generations. Jennifer and I shared together on the PWOC leadership team (women's ministry) at Beale AFB. When we moved, she took over as the President/leader of the group. It was so great to see them, remember what God did in those 25 years and look ahead to what he is doing now and in the future in all of our lives.   In an odd twist we discovered they know the Sgt who is working with Krista...he came into our last assignment just as we left.  AND she was telling me about the woman who leads their church's women's ministry. She said she thought she and I had much in common...even to serving in PWOC when we were USAF spouses. Imagine the surprise when Harmony was sharing her testimony and Jennifer realized our son had married their previous daughter in law, and our lovely Livie is Harmony's Livie too. God is so very good...and every once in a while, we get to see a bit of the intricate tapestry he weaves from what we see as tangled times. 

As we drove up our road, we noted a white truck in front of us. It turned into our driveway. It was Krista and Luke. Another surprise afternoon visit. Krista is just home from her time in Hawaii, Guam and Typhoon Mawar. We enjoyed hearing her stories, watching video clips, catching up with them...it feels like it's been a long time since we were able to sit and visit with Luke and Krista. They brought some brauts. We ran to the store and bought a few other things and had a Braut Burn at home. 

Millie loves to play with Reno. He's the only dog we aren't worried she will kill or be killed by. She is a covid puppy and not very social. We keep trying. Reno obviously will not be hurt by her, and he is a gentle giant. 

They were having a great time romping in the yard; we let them both off leash. We nearly had a disaster when a moose came into the yard. We didn't notice the moose until someone driving by honked. Ah....those dogs were determined to get the moose and the moose was riled. Reno came right back when called, and Millie looked like she was going to and then she simply couldn't help herself and charged back up to tell the moose a thing or two. Reno then ran and got between her and the moose. We finally got them both to listen, and the situation diffused. 

We didn't get a single bit of work done today, but it was a refreshing day. It was just sweet to sit and remember...and then to sit and cheer a new generation of military ministers on.