Playing With Josi

It's a JOSI day! 

Melia woke up to drive to Eagle River with me, went back to sleep, woke up for Japanese and WENT BACK TO SLEEP. Willow is not o.k. with this behavior! 

Josi is so fun to play with now! 

How can she sleep when I'm here?????

Meet Milo - Josi's cat.

Easter 2026

We went to ACF Saturday service which allowed us to go to Easter Sunday service with Cory, Arielle, Dad and Stacia.  Arielle and the kids were home sick.  My, how our family is shrinking and growing at the same time. LOL 

Stacia, Me, Melia, Michael

We had a family gathering over here this afternoon for those who could make it: BreZak, Carrie and Girls, Jared and Noah, and Nolan. It was a lot of fun. We celebrated Bella's 10th birthday and zoomed Allie in (Note Jared's phone). We all SWEAR a picture was taken of Allie's phone face up by Bella's as she blew out candles, but the photo hasn't turned up. 

Melia was able to talk with Auntie Cheryl and several of her cousins. We laughed that *I* made the Guava Cake (Melia's Granma's recipe, in photo) and *she* made the Apple Pie for Easter. There's a cultural exchange at its best.  Yes, we still have snow on Easter. 

We did have an egg hunt. Melia set it up with most of them inside, though that didn't stop kids from looking outside. Bachan did help the youngest searchers just a bit. We let Noah and Trudy have a 5 min head start. 

Sweet Cousins. 

Noah and Josi

Bella with gifts

Stacia - a Junior in College!

Noah & Jared

Easter is a Great Time to be Baptized

Melia talked about being baptized the first day she moved into our home. We talked and watched and waited to be sure she wanted to take this step and that she didn't feel a pressure to do it because, you know, we're Christians and a pastor family. In the end Melia knows Jesus said to believe and be baptized and she wanted to obey. 

We signed up with ACF and they called to interview her - that sounds much more antiseptic than the conversation actually was - they called to hear her Jesus story.  They asked if she'd consider some words to describe her life before Jesus and with Jesus to share at the service. 

We set about finding a day she could take this step. The first month we asked her to wait so her sisters and previous guardians could possibly attend. The second month BreZak's kids were getting baptized, and they'd already rescheduled once. The March date we planned on was cancelled due to church Easter Plans which brings us to Easter 2026 - 3 months after Melia joined our family.  Stacia, Bre and kids, Arielle, Jared, Larissa and Noah, Carrie and girls, Akemi, April and Eric and Ingrid and family were in attendance.  We shared the video link with Aunt Cheryl in New York. 

Stacia, Michael, Melia

Mike wouldn't miss the chance to baptize Melia

We cheered loud! 

This is not the beginning of Melia's Jesus story; He has had his eye and hand on her throughout her life.  This is certainly not the END of Melia's Jesus story; He will walk with her the rest of her life. This is a big milestone as she publicly declares who He has become to her and that she has decided to walk with Him. 

This was a great way to begin our Easter weekend. Easter is a GREAT time to be baptized. 

Willy Wonka

 Shew...these weeks FEEL so busy...though I'm not sure they ARE as busy as they feel. 

I was happy to take the girls to the Valley Performing Arts Center final play of the season at the end of this busy week. We were able to buy one extra ticket right beside the tickets I originally purchased at the start of the season. 

I'm glad Stacia and I went ahead and bought season tickets. There were a couple of times Stacia couldn't go, and one of the other girls was happy to go with me, there were many times we were able to purchase extra tickets for those who wanted to join us...all in all it's been positive. Melia enjoys the plays too, so we'll do this again next season. 

Me, Melia and Stacia

The season finished with Willy Wonka @ the Glenn Massey Theater. They did a great job! 

Three Months Today

The girls went out for what is most likely their last cross-country adventure of this winter. We may still get an Easter snowstorm...but the temps are in the 20's/30's and things are starting to melt during the day and freeze again at night. It makes for some amazing icicles,  but icier than ideal trails.  I can't tell you how much Stacia has enjoyed having a ready skiing partner in the house.

Several have asked how Stacia is doing with a younger sister in the house. Stacia is actually the first one who thought we should open our home to Melia (other than the ones who called to make the need known).  Stacia has taken to her role of big sister like a duck to water. ::snort:: Melia seems to love having a big sister in the house. 

After spending time with them recently, Bre, our eldest Gherkin, reminded Stacia of the daily prayers she prayed for a little sister. I remember explaining to Stacia we can ask God for anything, but He gets to decide how He will answer and it's not always yes. Sometimes it's no or wait.  While Stacia prayed, I got pregnant one more time, and we thought God was answering her prayer...but I miscarried twins. 

And so, the years continued on.... as we've done the math, we realize little girl Stacia was praying for her little sister every day during the time when newborn Melia was born and growing into a toddler. 

Who knows how this all works? We don't. Its above our pay grade. I'm glad God sorts out all our prayers. As Stacia said, "How strange to think God may have been answering a prayer I forgot I prayed." God remembers. 

In any event these two had a near immediate bond and they both are enjoying their new role as they grow into them. 

Melia has been in our home three months today.

(Disclaimer: both girls have complete winter gear, snow pants, jackets, gloves, hats etc. They say they get too hot to wear it all when they are skiing. Their gloves are in their pockets at this point.)

Random Tidbits - March 2026

I didn't pull together extra shots from February but am going to try to attempt it again this month. These are either photos I took and didn't have time to blog or photos the kids have shared - mostly of grands. LOL 

Luke and Krista are starting the month off strong with a visit to the Poop Museum. I wonder how this compares to the Suwan Toilet Museum some of the kids and I visited. 

📷by KrUke

March 6th and more snow in the Valley

📷by Bre

📷by Bre

📷by Bre

March 8th - Noah arrives back in Alaska. Larissa reports he walked outside the door and said, "No, snow!" Texas has the sun but Alaska has Dad.

Love these smiles

Josi - another winning toddler smile 

Cool Dude - 📷by Jared

Florida - 📷by Jamin

Josi's smile lights up the room - just like her Daddy's
📷by Carrie

Noah and Josi enjoying some cousin time! 

📷by Carrie

Cute 5 oz mini-"Stanleys" for the little girls to use. 

God is so very good! We join BreZaak in celebrating 19 years of sobriety for Izaak. Look at the blessings the years have brought him. We love you, Izaak. 

Tudy, Annie, Izaak, Bella, Gideon, Josiah - photo by Bre

These kids love a good reading challenge and Iditaread provided that in March. 

Annie, Josiah, Bre, Gideon 

Jamin's Outdoor Florida Studio

Arielle and Bre have worked out a deal whereby Arielle takes the older kids to the Nerf Games and Bre gives the young ones a fun time at her house. 

Annie went on the offensive

Annie, Benny, Gideon and Bella 

Noah reading about the Presidency

Snow outside the window - no garden in sight

Luke explores flying

This is a special place for all of us. We snuck up the trail and watched the night Josiah proposed to Carrie and Liv right on this spot. We celebrated with Root Bear Floats back at the start of the trail. Such good memories. 

Josi and Carrie

Josi loves her yogurt! 

That Week in March

 We try to live life open handed - loving those God brings into our lives and knowing He sometimes moves people out as well as into our lives. We try to live fully present and available to God. Some would express it as, "God has our yes." 

Living this way means some weeks are messy and a bit more dramatic than expected or appreciated. There were some lows in the past week, some anxiety, and some highs. The best thing for me to do was to "go silent" online and go loud in the "prayer closet" and take care of the things which needed attention. 

Monday found Melia and us picking up her sister's things and moving them to a new location. There have been a variety of discussions. Everyone is well and life is settling into new routines. 

In the process our names, as well as Melia's, were shared with several authorities. We are totally honest and above board with all. Through all the discussions we WERE able to get Melia empaneled with the Native Health Clinic in the valley. This means we were able to start trauma therapy, and it is our understanding we can get much of her health care through them rather than dealing with the fact that she was removed from Medicaid, and we can't add her to our private insurance.  This was an unexpected answer to prayer in the midst of "a week."  

We are still "halfway" expecting more calls...but who knows? Maybe not. We returned calls as asked - the ball is not in our court at this point. If you're a praying person, we welcome continued prayers for wisdom as we seek to be good guardians/parents to Melia. 

In addition to unexpected drama, we also had haircuts, life group, Hail Mary release in the theater,  a meeting with other coaches for an upcoming women's event, game nights and a PROM. 

It was a full week.