Courageous Joy

Tuesday, July 02, 2024

Whew! What a Day!

Whew! What a day! Michael hoped to leave the house about 9:30 and left at 1:30. He headed to Anchorage with his truck. A couple of weeks ago he took his truck in to have the auto start fixed. When he got it home the cruise control wouldn't work, and neither would the auto start. They said they had nothing to do with the cruise control but agreed to take a look at it. He headed to Anchorage. They discovered they clipped a wire to the brake lights which IS tied to both the auto start and the cruise control in some way. They apologized, fixed the wire and all is working again. He also made a quick run into Costco.

I value my alone time in the morning, and I had lots of it this morning. I spent some time in a book I'm reading, read the epistle of James and 1 Peter, and journaled a bit.

Last night I left 4 loaves of bread to ferment. I had read the recipe and realized I was using more flour than the recipe called for and they said it should be sticky. I used the flour called for and it was VERY sticky, and the bread looks really odd this morning...it tastes good...but is flat and wrinkly. I do believe I'll go back to my previous way of determining how much flour to use - when it feels right.

Only right to show the flops as well as the success

Allie got up about this time and left for work. Her boss wants her to work all shifts...so there you go. I picked the house up a bit - it gets messier in the summer as I spend as much time as possible outside.

I drove into town for a haircut.

Though I DID go outside, greet the mama and her baby, let the chickens out, and water the garden, I didn't make it into the garden until Michael got out of here. I discovered I really NEED time in the garden. It lifted my spirits immensely. Note by "greet mama and baby" I mean make enough noise to get Mama and Baby moving through the yard and back into the woods.

Note - this is mama and baby back in the evening

I grabbed 30 minutes in the garden after Michael left. I discovered the first sugar peas. In keeping with my new determination to harvest rather than let things grow until they are giant and woody....I picked and ate. It was surprisingly yummy.

I was happy to find new blossoms on several plants. I was starting to think only the toxic plants would flower.

I discovered PURPLE asparagus coming up. WHAT?

I watered the radish seeds I'd started, and the pumpkin starts waiting for more dirt so I can plant them. I dug around where there SHOULD be potato plants and found mushy potatoes. I pulled them out, sifted through dirt and planted a couple of sunflowers. I do like planting, watering and nurturing best. 😏I found one more teeny tiny potato plant poking through the dirt. All that weeding to find ONE teeny tiny plant. I think that'll preach!

See it at the bottom of the photo?

As I took the time to weed a row of potatoes, I was surprised to see one plant which had jumped right out of line with the others. I reached to pull the green "weed" from the wood chips and discovered a potato...how it moved over there I don't know...and it somehow ended up under the cardboard and woodchips....which were put in before I planted the potatoes. I delight in quirky and spontaneous and so I left it right there to grow. It's my garden - I can do what I want in it.

Stacia studied Japanese and prepared for a fun day with a friend, Lorelei. It was a double bonus as I got to spend a couple of hours catching up with her mom, Melanie. I didn't take one photo. It did my heart good to spend time with a friend today. What a sweet surprise blessing. It threw off her whole afternoon. I appreciate her willingness to sit with me.

Stacia left to take Lor home. Allie got off work. She, GG and I headed to the Delphi for dinner with Nolan. Stacia was there when we arrived. Michael came in as we ate. It was nice to end the day around the table with Nolan. His hand looks so much better than it did this time last week. It is no longer swollen. He's got more movement. It's still stiff and he says it feels like he is wearing a neoprene glove when he touches anything. He still has some dark spots on his hand. I think it's just a waiting game.

Monday, July 01, 2024

Michael's War on Evil Plants

I blogged last week about Michael getting into Devil's club and the welts, rash, burns and blisters he had. It is STILL nasty, but most have blistered and are now peeling. It turns out that the most prolific is the Cows Parsnip. THIS is what causes the burns and blisters if the sap is on you and then you are exposed to sun. THIS article is helpful. It seems they grow along with Devil's Club and Monkshood - both of which we also have and are also toxic. It's a battle.

Michael tackled them again today. He wore a long sleeved Gortex and came in and washed immediately. It was also an overcast day. Maybe the key is to tackle them on overcast days.

He reclaimed a lot of the yard. We need to haul it all to a burn pile in the back acre. THIS is not the season to be burning. It also seems all these plants are toxic so maybe we should make sure it's not going to multiply if we burn them. LOL They are evil...all of them...though they are kind of pretty.

Off On An Adeventure

Monday adventures are the very best kind. Stacia's an excellent Dog Mama. She routinely takes Millie out for runs and drives. Stacia and Millie invited me to come along with them today. Stacia will soon be starting a new job, it isn't easy for me to break away, but Michael stayed with GG and so we were off to find an adventure. Millie has quite the set up in the back of Stacia's Vibe! She doesn't lay in the bed until the hatch is closed.

Note the bed - which is anchored to the back seat, and the hooks around the back which hold her collapsible food bowls etc. Her leash is attached when the car is moving. There is also a suctioned bowl for water. She's got it made! This is her sitting on her bed...Stacia put on piano jazz, Millie's favorite, and she settled right down.

We drove down to a local river and tossed a ball, walked up ATV trails and inspected wildflowers.

We were told we'd find Sasquatch in these mountains if we looked for them. We have and we haven't.

I'm glad we carved the time to steal away before Stacia is busy with more classes and a job. We live in such a beautiful state.

The Rocking Chair

Mother's Day 2006 the kids bought me two beautiful white rocking chairs. I had dreamed of a porch with a rocking chair and in San Angelo, TX we had just enough room to fit two rocking chairs. Josiah was the oldest at home that year and he and Jamin instigated the advent of the rocking chairs into my life. Michael was deployed that year. I'm sure this was funded mostly with Josiah and Jamin's money (though all chipped in). Over the years they got weathered. I painted them this beautiful turquoise and gave them a new lease on life 4 or 5 years ago. One of them is in Michael's workshop as he thinks he can repair it. This one has been in front of the greenhouse but in keeping with my new commitment to sit and relax in the garden....I moved it to the garden. The little stand to the left is from Josiah's and Carrie's. I nabbed it when we helped Carrie clean up her yard and shed a few weeks ago.

In the past couple of weeks as I've wrestled with God in the garden, I've started sitting in the rocker to pray, to listen, to read... Below you can view my typical set up with Bible, journal, GG monitor, ThermaCell and a container of crayons - which I've discovered are the perfect Bible highlighters - lots of colors and NO BLEED.

I worked through a chapter or two of Hebrews. It was good. I needed to remember we all mature and learn much through suffering. I can't protect every person in my circle from suffering. I can also surrender my suffering to Him...and the parts about loving and showing hospitality etc. Good stuff. And He will NEVER leave or forsake me. Regardless.

Quiet time View

The little "Welcome Home" banner has taken on new significance to me as I work my way back to truly being "home."

I have a habit of big stretches. At the end of reading, praying and journaling, I threw my arms and legs up, arched by back and CRAAAACK!

Oh no!!! It was suggested it was time to move the chair to the burn pile.

No!

I.simply.can't.

Josiah used his pay from Chick Fil A, his first job, when he was 17 to buy these chairs for me. I know they won't last forever and it's probably time to say goodbye to them, but.not.now.

new boxes in background prepping for more
weed suppression

I turned the seat from the chair into a stand for one of the glass fishing floats from Northern Japan. I'll probably add a small plant or something before too long. I will use the back for a short trellis in the new bed. It's in the bed waiting for me to get more dirt.

See the turquoise trellis?

I'll have to move my sessions of daily grace to the uncomfortable chair... it will work.

Turned the stand from CyRi over to hold a float

This new view isn't bad for quiet time either.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Unusual Sunday

I rested with God in the garden this morning....before the day's activities took off. I didn't pull a single weed.

This Sunday we 3, Michael, myself and GG, were the only ones at church in Eagle River. Larissa and Noah are traveling in TX. Krista and Luke are also traveling in the lower 48 with the kids. Carrie and the girls were on their way back from the lake. Jamin and Jared had gone on an overnight camping/fishing trip with Cory and Benny. The girls were at MAG as Morgan, the young gal mentioned in this post, was getting baptized. On the way into Eagle River, we typically send out a message to group me, "How many seats do we need to save today?" and we begin getting responses. Seven seats have been the least, usually it's 12 - 14 and we've hit 22 several times. We don't have pews - I can't just tell them to "squish tighter" as we did in military chapels. It was relaxing to know we only needed 3 seats today, though we missed everyone. ::snort:: Krista or Luke send out another message, "Anyone want a drink this morning?" and they stop at a local stand and show up with lattes, Frappuccino's and Italian sodas. Good times. I had missed church at ACF last week as I was in church in Wasilla with CoRielle.

We are starting a series on the Holy Spirit, and we really wanted to hear the message. One thing I've heard a few times since we began attending ACF is "But they AREN'T Pentecostal." Hmmm...I've seen God moving, Holy Spirit is active and transforming lives at ACF; people are being saved, the word is preached, people are being baptized, unbelievers are welcomed and loved, a community is being impacted in practical ways, the church is living life on mission...they may not have a Pentecostal label, but Holy Spirit shows up. Michael and I thought this was a GREAT MESSAGE (message begins at 16 min) on the Holy Spirit and it's a series...more to come! Even GG had a few "amens" to share. He was skeptical at first of going to church at ACF because it wasn't Pentecostal, but he HAS told me in the past, "they act more Pentecostal than most Pentecostal churches." I'm not sure what he means by that. ::snort:: We hope to watch the message again with the girls as they missed it - and I missed quotes I was taking notes and couldn't keep up. I'm learning to look up from my journal and snap a picture if Brian begins a quote - because I know I'm going to want it and I can't keep up.

Michael and I at church.

We're PROS at saving seats. If you ever want to come to church with us, we'll save you a seat. Carrie and the girls got home during church, and we were able to drop over and fill up our tank with girl vibes before we headed back to the valley.

MAG, where the girls were, was also having their church picnic. A good time was had by all AND THE RAIN HELD OFF for them. Bre sent these photos.

Allie and friend

Bella

Stacia

Annie

Trudy

Bre and Jojo

Jojo

It started raining on our way home from Eagle River. This led to a lazy afternoon inside...no yard work. We read, watched movies, had tea...all good.

Random June Glimpses

Wow. It's hard to believe this is the last day of June already! It's been a glorious, sunny, warm month. It's been a month of learning how to step into joyful new memories while deeply mourning the absence of Josiah who would typically be celebrating summer with us. It's been a month of HARD GOOD. We've picked out cemetery plots, ordered a headstone, gone on first lake trips, first Colony Days, first fishing trips, first trip to Red Shirt - without Josiah.

Here I am at the end of the month looking at photos saved and trying to decide if they are new blog posts - or a random recap. Join me at glimpses of the month to precious to forget but which never fit into other blog posts.

Cory and the boys on a hike📷by Arielle

June 2nd Jared, Lassie, Noah and Larissa went to the opening of a new dog park in Eagle River.

📷by Larissa

Hold my tea! Charles visits me on a rainy day!

Charles

Josi 📷by Carrie

Have you ever felt like life was a bit out of control? So have I.

One step at a time and life can usually be tamed.

Stacia...ah, Stacia.

Colony Day Parade in the past - several of us just couldn't do it this year. Josh, my counselor, has said when asked to do things I don't feel like doing I should ask myself, "Is this worth the cost to do it even though I want to avoid it?" If it is - do it. If there is no benefit, in this season, it's o.k. to say no. Maybe it's o.k. in any season. I'm new to boundaries. LOL In any event, to me, the parade wasn't worth the cost.

There's Cy, Carrie and Liv in the back📷by Arielle

This little one is full of smiles - though she's keeping Mama up every 20 - 30 minutes at night. Sleep training is in her very near future. What a joy it is to see her daddy's smile peek through her smile...his personality begin to show up in her personality...melded beautifully with Carrie's.

Josi Faith - 📷by Carrie

Cousins!

Bre and Carrie's kids 📷by Carrie

Our road is a mess! We've watched quick tar patches over cracks and potholes for 7 years...but I guess this is the year that the planned road improvement is happening in our area. Our road leads to a major trail head. They are widening the road and putting in a "pedestrian pathway." This looks like a bit mess and lots of trees down at this point. I'm glad the view in the mirror is always beautiful.

This was GG's toughest puzzle yet...and truthfully Michael and Stacia did much of it, but GG spent many hours sitting with the puzzle.

Eggs!

Noah, is the best little campaign side kick in history! Jared and Noah have been in miles and hours meeting up with people in their district and talking about how lead.

June 19 - cousin play date at CoRielle's - Ellie and Josi

📷by Arielle

Danny & Josi 📷by Cory

Larissa and Noah have flown to TX to visit their TX family for a few weeks. Larissa is an amazing traveling mama. How is Daddy going to campaign without his best door-knocking buddy?

Window Clings for the win! 📷by Larissa

📷by Larissa

Check this out! Some sort of sleeping contraption...I usually look like a pretzel trying to sleep. Of course, I'm a bit taller than Noah.

📷by Larissa

Noah is having the time of his life in TX. He's playing in the ocean for the first time, enjoying play dates with 2nd cousins and spending quality time with his Texas family. He's having the time of his life - and we miss him and his mama dearly. LOL

June 21st - they say things must get worse before they get better. That is sure true of our road. I was complaining in the spring that they keep putting a layer of tar over cracks and potholes...but we are down to the dirt now. LOL

June 24th - Ellie is three months old.

Krista was home for a weekend before she, Luke and the kids flew off to the lower 48. They landed in Oregon and are taking the road trip of a lifetime down to CA and back up - stopping to enjoy many things along the route. Here are just a few pictures that are meaningful to us. LOL

Kids and Luke 📷by Krista

On the beach below Michael's childhood home. How we loved this place!

📷by Krista

The lighthouse and Redwoods from home.

📷by Krista

June 29/30th - I've previously written about what Red Shirt Lake has meant to our family. Truthfully, most of us girls opted NOT to hike in 3 miles, sleep on plywood, have no outhouse, and eat beanie wheenies from a can, but the guys loved their trips to Red Shirt. Jamin and Jared invited Cory to go along with them on a Red Shirt fishing/camping trip this Saturday/Sunday. Cory took Benny along. How FUN to see the next generation joining in the fun. This trip is another one of those HARD GOOD things in June.