A Wednesday in January

This was Melia's first full day of school.  She felt like it was a LOT, but I have no doubt she will get used to the routine...it was only 3 hours of focused schoolwork. That's doable. It is less than the 6 1/12 hours she would spend at a public highschool...but it is also FOCUSED work, so I know it feels longer. 

I want to be nearby and available for Melia while she is schooling and I found the time to blog etc was motivating.  She's off and running. At this point we are still waiting for an IDEA contact teacher to be assigned though we have heard that we are an accepted IDEA family. ::snort:: They won't provide an allotment as she is registering mid-year - I don't understand that. BUT it was easy enough to simply enroll her in Acellus Academy (the program the state uses) and sign up for the classes she had begun at her last high school.  We aren't "catching up" with this plan but we aren't losing ground either. When she finishes these four classes, we can begin catch up with the things she missed in her freshman year. We will get there. We have a plan! 

After school was done Michael, Melia and I went on a shopping spree. Our goal was winter snow gear. We went to Walmart and found a jacket. She received a beautiful new winter jacket at Christmas; we want one she can sled and ski in without fear of tearing her new jacket. We found a gorgeous jacket on sale for $19. We didn't like the $45 price of snow bibs. We headed to Play It Again Sports, Sportsman Warehouse, Fred Myers and ended up back at Walmart. Michael kept the car warm and we ran in, picked out a pair and bought them. Maybe the moral of the story is Walmart really has the best prices in town. 😂 We could have thrifted. 

We dropped Melia off at Alex and Nolan's. Jamin, Stacia and Allie were there for a sibling hangout/game night. 

Michael and I headed out to catch dinner and have some rare alone moments to chat. It was great fun. 

It's a bit bemusing we have had months of so much time alone in the house...and then December arrived and we've had lots of activity, guests in the house, and now a new daughter in our home. We are going to have to make time to go OUT for dates to connect rather than simply being together 24/7 with lots of alone time. LOL 

Stacia came home at 10. Melia had stayed with Allie. We realized - oh yeah - we should set a curfew time especially for school nights, I suppose. The things one so quickly forgets. We'll have to figure out what is reasonable and we can pick her up if Stacia is staying later in future weeks. 

We all went to bed tired. 

Busy Sunday

We ended our Sunday in the living room watching the next movie in our Marvel Marathon. Tonight's movie was Black Widow. It was a relaxing evening to a busy day. 

Nolan, Stacia, Melia & Allie 

The day found our family scattered at various churches and activities around the area. Michael, Melia and I drove in early to Eagle River. We were able to meet up with her former guardian, an uncle and girlfriend, her two sisters and the family who is their guardians as they came out of the 1000 service. We attended the 1130 service, grabbed lunch and made it back to the valley for Annie's party.

Stacia and Allie had a leisurely day - probably their last full day together before Stacia is back at work and college and Allie flies back to college.  We met up at Annie's party. 

It snowed overnight! Quite a lot! It is ironic and sad that we got all this lovely deep snow when Luke left. He had so looked forward to snow machining while home from Okinawa. He gave it a valiant effort...going to different locations and finding a bit of snow. 

Stacia and Melia 

Jamin has been sick. He had to get up to deal with a plumbing issue at his 4-plex. 

Jamin

Noah and Jared came over after the party to spend a bit of time. He loved my glasses. 

Noah and Bachan 

Note: the gloves are because the tops of several of my fingers had split open due to the dry cold. I covered them in antibiotic cream and Vaseline and wore gloves for a few days. 

Ice cream and hot bevvies...it's a thing. 

Allie & Noah

While we all dealt with the extreme cold and snow...Carrie and the girls enjoyed the Caribbean!🌴🩷 🌞 Josi is living her best life onboard ship! I've shamelessly ripped the photos from Facebook and family chat posts. 

OH! Allie gave Melia a crochet lesson. It was a bit tricky as Melia is left-handed. 

Annalise's 7th Birthday Party

 Annie's birthday is Jan 15th. We gathered today to celebrate her 7th birthday with her friends. 

Annie

Annalise is a delightful spitfire! She has a zest for life that few match. She knows her mind and isn't afraid to advocate for herself. This Bachan and Papa know that God is going to use that zeal for His purposes.  We laughed at her costume - Annie can pull it off. 

Her party had a winter theme - because Annie is one of our favorite things about winter.  There were gingerbread houses, cookies and a hot chocolate bar.  Here are some photos Bre sent from the party. 

Noah

Jared

Stacia and Me

Michael, Allie and I

Michael & Trudy

Fun-filled Saturday

 Stacia took this morning to show Melia how to make crepes. It was fun to see them begin to forge a connection. (Since this day Melia has made crepes at least 3 or 4 times - she's got it.)

A bit later KrUke headed over to meet up with his family for lunch. We enjoyed lunch, picked up GG and met up with Krista, Luke, Luke's parents and sister/brother in law, Nolan, and all of us from home. We caught Zootopia 2 - which we liked.

Dad

Mike, Melia, Allie, Stacia

We left the movie and ventured over to CoRielle's for games and popcorn! It was a great way to spend a Saturday! 

Melia, Arielle & Stacia

Charles

Danny

Arielle, Nolan, Krista, Stacia, Melia

Benny, Allie & Charles 

We love having KrUke and Allie home. 

Fun Friday

A fun part of having adult Gherkins home is we get lots of visits from the rest of the Gherkins who live locally, too. 

Today, we watched CoRielle's kids while they ducked out a bit. Then Bre and her kids, Jared and Noah, and Arielle stopped in for games and fun. 

Charles LOVES Bachan's recliner. It comes with an amazing heating pad for back and shoulders that can be worn (gift from Stacia) and a heated throw (gift from Michael). I agree it's a great place to spend a winter's afternoon with a cuppa tea and a good library book. 

Charles

The kids all LOVE the Grinch tree in my nook. 

Ellie

Benny jumped in to helping Krista with this diamond art pug. I love how Krista always has a group project ready at the table. 

Playdough for the boys

Charles & Danny

Yay! Our little helpers have been helping bring in wood when they visit. Papa is still on "no carry" orders. 

Benny & Danny

Benny

Benny, Krista, Allie, Ellie

Melia, Arielle & Krista

Melia, Nolan, Bre, Mike, Noah, Jared, Allie & Stacia

 

2026 - Surprising us Already!

 Yes, we DO still have a blog and it's time I give it some attention, before it ceases to be a family journal for the ages. ::snort::  I am once again homeschooling (and I need to go back and capture the feelings of having completed homeschooling before I forget) and so while our student works on, I plan to sit nearby and blog...or at least organize photos... This should keep me available to Melia. 

January 1, 2026! 

Allie, Krista and Luke are all still home for Christmas. I have memories and pictures to sort. 

Michael, Stacia and I drove into Eagle River early to bring Melia home. 

Backstory - The day before Thanksgiving we were asked if we ever have provided a safe haven for children/teens.

We have. We spent some time considering taking in 3 girls. Our family raised valid concerns which helped us see we simply aren't in a season where we can commit as many years as would be required to raise 3 girls. We committed to pray and to be a short-term solution if a longer-term solution wasn't forthcoming. 

Time blurs but sometime in December we were asked if we'd consider taking in one, 16-year-old girl as a permanent placement. Again, we prayed and discussed the situation. We can commit emotionally and financially to one teen. We also have the stamina and health for one extra person in our home.  We met with Melia and the guardian she had had since late October. We met with her father and signed papers and Melia moved in on January 1st. 

Millie loves having another girl in the house

First selfie - certainly not the last. ::snort:: 

Stacia, Melia and I sat down to get to know each other and to have our first tea party.  I am a firm believer there are healing properties in sharing tea and table fellowship. 

It was a crazy time to move into our home; we had three extra guests and lots of activity. Melia was thrilled to be on an air mattress in our study. Moving in now gave her a chance to get to know Krista, Luke and Allie. Luke and Krista moved the treadmill out of the guest room before they left. Krista rearranged the guest room, so it looks much bigger, and Melia is now comfortably at home in what used to be the guest room. Guests can stay on the air mattress in the study. LOL

Krista picked up this diamond art kit of a pug for GG. We all enjoyed sitting, talking and working on it.  Here we see Melia, Krista, Stacia and Nolan working on the psychedelic pooch.  

Even the moose came out to greet Melia. 

I will not be sharing much more about Melia's story here but here is one amazing fun fact. Melia's grandfather was a Japanese man who immigrated to Hawaii. Her father is of "full Japanese descent."  She is interested in learning and visiting Japan and in learning the language. We contacted Kim, who gave many of our children Japanese lessons. Melia was able to immediately begin Japanese lessons. We have hopes of being able to visit Luke and Krista and see a bit of Japan this year.  

 2026 is off and running in ways we hadn't expected. We are excited about what God is doing in our midst. My word for this year is restoration, and I can't help but notice a sense of purpose and activity has already been restored to our lives this year. 

New Year's Eve

 As we have flexed with our family, we have settled into a routine that includes individual family plans on Christmas (meeting up for games in the afternoon for those who would like), a family exchange and celebration on New Year's Eve and then a household exchange near epiphany on Jan 6th.

The first year we saved all gifts for New Years Eve we were in Japan and our college kids wouldn't be home for Christmas but would be home by New Years. This allowed us all to celebrate. It also took a LOT of pressure off this pastor's family during a busy Advent season; it allows us to focus on Jesus at Christmas...and a lot of the busy stuff just doesn't rear its head.  As adult Gherkins married it allows them to spend time with the "in laws" as they decide, and for immediate family traditions in their own homes without always having to be with Papa and Bachan on Christmas day. It's worked well. 

 Michael and I usually buy for each adult Gherkin as well as each grand. The rest of us also draw names. Krista set us up on Draw names (yes, she's organizing us from overseas) and the fun began. 

Most of the group in one shot 

Gideon front - Michael with C & D and Stacia

Eagerly watching Trudy open a gift

Ellie helped Uncle Jamin open gifts

Bella got shoes from Aunt Mary

We got Noah a hot wheels garage - storage thing

Alex!

Krista made this collage from sea glass she and Luke collected in Okinawa. The bottom left is a tree trunk and Michael and I....and then each family and gherkin has their own square...together they make a tree and branches. 

Stacia, Bella & Allie

Cousins! 

Ellie & Noah

Krista made all these squares for us...and she used full names and even added Melia (who was to join our home Jan. 1st).  Michael and I need to assemble it on a wall...

Ellie & Uncle Jamin - funcle

All the pieces together....

For years we've had a gingerbread competition but the heart of it left with Josiah. Maybe we'll do it again someday. This year we visited, played games and colored. We also opened a time capsule for 2013 and put new items in for the 2025.  I may as well just say what we all felt. JOSIAH IS SO VERY MISSED. Every day, but especially on New Year's Eve. He used to go with Michael to the town over to buy fireworks, he'd come over early and shovel paths to the firepit and help Michael set out all the fireworks. Opening the time capsule from 2013 was a leap of faith, and there were reminders that brought tears...and 2025...what a year! It began with a trial, had a sentencing in the middle and saw Krista and Allie both leave the state. BUT - we are still standing. We still love each other. We still had much to laugh about, but the tears and ache are real too. 

Catching up 

Charles

Roman Candles - closely supervised

Alex, Allie & Stacia

Jamin stepped in to help organize fireworks. He and Jared went with Michael to buy them. We didn't have much snow this year and we simply didn't shovel a nice path to the firepit. LOL 

Check out the stand Michael built

Alex, Stacia, & Luke

Benny

Keeping warm

Jared, Noah and Charles

Noah

Jared and Jamin 

Ellie & Cory

Luke, Krista, Arielle, Jared

CoRielle

Krista

Sparklers - Stacia, Krista et al 

Ellie & Cory 

Arielle & Ellie

Inside snuggles - Danny & Papa

Jared or Larissa sent this one late in the night. Noah needed to get out his gift and play with it before bed...seems perfectly reasonable to this Bachan.