We Love Sundays

We love Sundays. It begins with the mad rush to get everyone up and out the door on time to drive to Eagle River. We meet up with our muni of Anchorage kids...participate in a fantastic meeting and head out for lunch afterwards. Allie took a car this morning too as she and Stacia wanted to come home directly after lunch. For the first time ever the front handicap spot we usually take was FILLED. This was an adventure for GG as we found some spots in the back, but he doesn't do stairs well....so we enjoyed an impromptu spring walk around the campus to the front. I told him it was good for him. He was a good sport. What we thought we felt was borne out by numbers...ACF is growing! ::snort::  We broke 2,000 for the first time ever on a NORMAL week. Brian has encouraged some of us 10 and 11:30 people need to move to 8:30, Wed night or the NE Anchorage campus.  Most exciting to me was hearing the number of new believers in Jesus (64) and the number of those taking the Crash Course which is the next step in discipleship. Good stuff. 

We went to Garcia's for the first time ever  after service and it was yummy. The girls and GG left to come directly home. Michael and I visited Lowes. We picked up things for a project for Michael, a deck box, and seeds...we picked up more seeds. 

Back at home we continued to relax...and Nolan dropped by for games.

GG sporting a new birthday shirt. 

Michael, Stacia, Nolan, Allie

As the day wore on, I opted to head for the hot tub. I had some interesting new hot tub partners.

Spring Saturday

We are having such an EARLY spring! Part of me wishes winter would hang on just a bit longer as the frantic, manic work season is about to begin. ::snort:: 

I got GG up and ready for the day and then I went to CoRielle's. Benny had a soccer game in Wasilla today. Danny came with us this time. It was a fun outing. 

Danny was happy to be out with Mom and Bachan. 

Benny is number 7 in the white jersey this week. 

Benny made two points this week. You have to blow it up to see.... but this is Benny after kicking the ball...the ball is behind the goalie. 

I collected all the snowmen from my home and packed them away. I put spring pillow covers out. I think I have a few more spring decorations in the garage. I'll get them out next week. LOL 

I spent an hour and a half outside cleaning up poop...dog poop, chicken poop and moose poop. I was happy to be outside - not so happy with the specific job. ::snort:: Michael scouted locations for putting cameras up outside and tried to track down a hot tub leak. 

I got into the greenhouse and moved out the yard chairs. I brought four to them to the decks. It was 100* in the greenhouse. I am starting seeds this week...and maybe I'll get an early start on tomatoes. I don't know I'm leery of getting too much going outside...because everyone says NOT to until at LEAST Memorial Day weekend. We have a plan to increase my seed-starting space. 

I HAD to check out the garden. There's still snow out here. I need to wait for the ground to warm up a bit. However, there is much less snow than we usually have in March. Usually, the snow is still COVERING the raised beds. 

I forced myself to come inside and get some dinner on the table. Stacia visited for dinner and she and Allie are playing Slap Jack. Michael is checking out his screen world, GG is reading, and I plan to head out to the hot tub. My back aches after all the moving of poop. 

           Ah, everyone joined me...

I hope your Saturday has been wonderful too. 

Introducing Stella

 This is Stella. She's had a bit of a hard life. She actually was a bully in the chicken yard. One day this winter she somehow got her foot stuck somewhere in the coop and tore off a claw/toenail.  We isolate hens for a variety of reasons in the garage during the winter. When they are all better, we have always been able to integrate them back with the flock. 

Stella got better and Michael moved her back to the flock. He was in Portland, OR for his neurology appointment, I was out running errands when Allie got home from work and heard ungodly squawking. They were all attacking Stella. Several were ON her picking feathers, she was bleeding...and so we separated Stella again. 

Michael got home and put her back with the flock. He went out to put chickens away in the evening and found her on top of what used to be a bunny hutch and is now the isolation wing during the summer. She was NOT coming down.  He moved her back to the garage.

We usually let the chickens have the run of the property when the weather is nice.  They continue to chase down Stella. Stella now has free range of the acres. Sometimes she stays out in the woods overnight, sometimes she is waiting at the garage or front door. During the day she roams around, we leave out feed and water for her. The others are stuck in the chicken yard because they are mean to Stella. 

Stella no longer lays eggs, but she deserves to live out her life without being terrorized by the flock. She's become quite tame.  She usually lays her head down on my arm and snuggles in when I pick her up.  She and Millie are learning to co-exist. 

The One Where....

...we collect air filters of all kinds, Michael finishes his victim impact statement and Allie elevates her ankle...

For more details keep reading....

Many are in a flurry preparing for the predicted eruption of Mt. Spurr. We are far enough away we don't expect a lot of trouble...but ash could happen. I guess we got 1/4 inch of ash from the last eruption of Mt Spurr in 1992. Some are predicting 1/2 an inch - soon. We know folks building ash shelters. We've taken a moderate approach. We'll stay home when the ash arrives, as I'm told roads are slippery with ash.  We ordered all the filters we need for our home (above) and cars (below). 

The top box is N95 masks if we need them for a couple of days. Our supply chain is subject to interruption up here so we always store plenty of food should trucks or planes be delayed. We have eggs, a freezer of salmon and beef. I think we're ready. 

In other news Michael finished his victim impact statement, and I mailed it off.  His was professional - and tightly written - only 3 typewritten pages. 

Allie's job involves a lot of time on her feet, running and wrestling with dogs. She was told not to go back to work until Friday...and even then, not to run. Today, she worked on school - and yes, she kept her ankle elevated.  She still has a bit of a limp but she's much, much better than she was and reports the pain and swelling are subsiding. 

Things are Happening

 Big things are happening with our youngest two girls.  These years are amazing....the senior year hits with fuzzy plans....and before you know things are falling into place and they are flying high! 

Allie is about to wing across the continent participate in the film program she's been accepted into. OK - not until fall - but it feels imminent.  Stacia has decided to finish her Bachelor of Artgs degree and then pursue a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language. 

Of course, our thoughts and conversations visit the upcoming separations....the girls have solved the problem of missing each other. 

It just may work! They'll have to try some practice runs. Treat any large boxes coming your way from Alaska with great care. 

If this works, my friends, I may begin shipping myself all over the world. Prepare to receive shipment. 

A Depressed Dog, a Sprained Ankle and a Therapeutic Exercise

Millie does her best to nudge Michael into getting up. I find it hilarious when she gives up and joins him for a snooze.  She misses her college girl. I think she gets a bit depressed. 

My one goal today was to finish my victim impact statement and get it mailed into the Department of Corrections, so my words can be included in the pre-sentencing report for Josiah's murderer. I have been DREADING doing this. The first two questions were fairly easy. There were tears as I shared how his murder has impacted me, how things have changed and then I hit question number 3. Share what you'd like the judge to know about your loved one, share memories, anything else you want the judge to know as he or she considers sentencing.  Whew!  My thoughts swirled. I knew I would need more than the space allowed. They encouraged you to add a page as needed...so I did.  I had so much I wanted to communicate to the judge. At points in the trial, it felt like Josiah's life had less value than the defendant's right to a defense. The state has the burden of proof. This is good - but I didn't expect a defense lawyer can say hateful things which defamed Josiah's character without proof. But they can. I wanted the judge to know Josiah's life had value; he was a good, caring, loving man, and he mattered. I began writing...

Allie came home early from work. In the midst of breaking up a fight between a pure-bred Doberman and a mutt, she was thrown to the ground and injured in the tussle. Michael took her to urgent care for a check-up.  Allie came home with an ace bandage for her acute sprain and strained ligaments AND most importantly a note for work.  (Note *I* am being dramatic; Allie had to be persuaded to go to the doctor). 

I continued to write and edit. We have been told we can speak at the sentencing, but we can't speak directly to the criminal and must direct our words to the court. I wrote much of what I want to say to HIM while telling the judge what I thought about various things, and I realized I COULD speak to him while addressing the court. snort:: This turned into a therapeutic exercise; gut-wrenchingly hard but therapeutic. My voice will be heard. I was allowed a bit of power in sharing who Josiah was; what the community lost with his murder, and what I think needs to be done. 

Yes, I DID need additional pages! 

I fixed and served dinner. I hadn't spent much time outside today so I walked the packet down to the mailbox - 1.5 mile walk. 

It's on its way. 

Stacia came home with a friend, Lonicera, and they took Allie's mind off her aching ankle. The girls will be in Lonicera's wedding in June. 

This is my favorite shot. 

We enjoyed the brief visit. Millie is a bit perplexed by Stacia's comings and goings.

How I Raised Them

I've become a rather lousy blogger and I apologize. Allow me to share a few excuses. ::snort:: The holidays were tough following the anniversary of Josiah's loss, I've been processing the whole political season local and national, and I have also been processing broken and lost relationships... That covers Nov - January.  February arrived with the trial and THAT sort of processing...the long and short of it is I'm finding my way back to a new normal. This is not to say I have "moved on," rather I am learning how to travel well with my new companion named "grief."  

My counselor pointed out I'm starting to do "things" again, and they are brining joy rather than exhaustion. Michael and I have begun planning for a couple parenting workshops we have been invited to facilitate.  We are attending a local care group. I have begun attending a Ladies Bible study at Wasilla Community Church, the church Cory pastors. This has given me the joy of not only attending Bible study with a great group of ladies but also being able to sit under our daughter, Arielle's, ministry. Good stuff. 

Since it seems grief isn't going anywhere far, it is time for me to learn to blog with that tenacious companion. 

Here goes!!!! Today, Krista and I met at that favorite of all shopping places - Costco. Many were there to stock up against the impending eruption of Mt. Spurr.  We were there to purchase a couch for KrUke to take with them when they move.  Their unaccompanied baggage will be packed out in April, so it was time. It makes me sad as I'm about to lose THIS Costco buddy. 

Krista treated me to an "80% less sugar" iced chai and lunch at Yak and Yetti. YUMMM - Nepalese food. 

We fought through the Costco crowds and finally checked out with a full CART of groceries, and two flatbed carts loaded with three big boxes containing their couch. We had thought we could load them into her jeep and my mini-van, I brought Mike's truck "just in case." By this time, we realized it was a good thing I had brought the truck.  We were told associates would help us load the truck. We TOLD him the taller, square boxes should be on the bottom in Mike's truck and the long, thinner box on the top. He refused. 

I really think these should go in first!

I kept offering helpful comments such as, "This does NOT look good." Krista offered physical assistance. 

No, I DON'T feel good about this.

He threw the boxes up there and ran for the hills. He said he couldn't help with strapping them down. We threw a couple of straps on, and Krista did the snap, "That's not going anywhere" test Mike is famous for, I snapped a photo and texted Michael. Michael began blowing up our phones. At this point we agreed there was NO WAY I was driving THIS back to the valley on the HIGHWAY. 

Can you even imagine?

We discovered none of the boxes were small enough yo fit in Krista's Jeep, so she went to base to get Luke's truck. AND here is the point of this story. 

I raised my boys (girls too come to think of it) to offer assistance when you see it may be needed. I am amazed at how many men walked or drove by laughing and making silly comments but not offering to HELP us move these three heavy boxes. One even said, "You were loading those an hour ago when I went in." Krista laughed and said, "Yes, yes we were."

I raised my girls to figure out how to get the job done if no one offers assistance. 

 First, we began sliding and dropping boxes from the truck bed onto carefully positioned carts. 

Krista corralled a man walking past and asked him to please help us with just the one long box. He helped get it into the back of Luke's truck. We only had to slide it in...Krista pulled and guided, I pushed....

Our next challenge was getting Krista out of the truck. 

We lifted the other boxes back into Mike's truck and strapped them down. It was a much better solution than the original leaning tower. Krista followed me out to the Valley. 

Alex and Nolan met us at home, and they made short work of unloading into KrUke's storage shed. We're all ready for the packers. 

Stacia is house-sitting and dropped by about the time Allie got home from work. We played 30 minutes of "Tell me without Telling Me,"  before the girls disappeared. GG went to bed. Michael and I spent a delightful evening in the hot tub.