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. 

Prom Number One

Melia is attending two proms this year, and tonight was the first one: The Matsu Valley Homeschool Prom. Before the moment pictured below, there was a flurry of activity. 

We began planning two months ago. We began shopping 1 1/2 months ago. LOL Melia invited her high school sister to join her. We were told the prom was for high school students - and then later that it was for 14 - 20-year-olds. We worked on a variety of scenarios to have both sisters spend the night and have dinner... and in the end coming off the crazy week and new schedules we decided it would be best to focus on the dance and skip the sleepover.  The girls planned to come out after school for the dance.

Arielle stopped over to transform Melia's long hair into a 20's themed bob. I was amazed at the process. It took about 100 bobby pins and half a can of hair spray. ::wink::  She began by making a bunch of braids and securing them in coils on the back of Melia's head. Then she curled and twisted and covered it all up with S Curls and such....

They are already planning a medieval style

Tada! A Bob!

Bre and the kids dropped by. Bella and Annie stayed to keep us company as Rebekah dropped by to do Melia's make up. The girls were a bit starry eyed. Gideon, Jojo and Bre ran to the store and came back with carnations that matched Melia's dress. 

Melia, Bella, Gideon, Trudy, Arielle and Bre in back

Meanwhile our Anchorage contingent was rushing out to the valley and there was another flurry of preparations for 15 yo sister.  I was glad we had the foresight to warn those we had planned to meet at 4 that the timing was going to be too tight for pictures at the bridge. 

We all left for dinner around 7:30 p.m.  The girls headed over to the dance around 9 p.m.  They had a couple of hours to enjoy the fun.  A surprise of the evening is that they allowed 13 yo sister to stay as well. 

We had hoped to stop for ice cream after the dance, but everything shuts down before 11:00 p.m. around here. 

It was a fun evening. Melia was surprised how inappropriately some dressed and acted...I told her our rules stand. LOL She's curious to see if it's a different group and how the groups compare at the IDEA prom in May. 

(Disclaimer: We are aware this is not the IDEA prom. We saw the notice of it at IDEA and thought it was. Melia will also go to the IDEA Prom in May and then we can compare the two.)

This Girl is on Fire!

Here it is - a terribly braggy parental post. Melia worked hard and has finished all the credits she had begun her 10th grade year. She did this in TWO and a HALF MONTHS - and she did it online, full year courses, in a state approved, online program for teens who need such a service.  She earned 2 A's and 2 B's....which is much better than her previous GPA.  Michal has been talked into $40 for each A. One of those B's was 88% but he hasn't budged as to a sliding scale. ::wink::*

Our contact teacher called Monday. I had left a message Thursday that Melia was about to finish, and I needed new courses added.  She called Monday. She said she pulled up Melia's account and thought something had happened because the screen was blank. Then she noted all the courses were under the completed tab. I guess she didn't think I knew what I was talking about.  She kept saying, "She finished all her course work in March." 

You may remember we had been told they would grant full credit for these courses if Melia could finish them by June 30th.  I said she could. Melia proved me right. She said the whole office is following our progress. She is the first student to finish this year's coursework; she completed all assignments and is moving on to the Freshman work she missed. 

They agreed with me that we need to find a more challenging courseload for Melia's Junior year, one that may take her the entire 9 months to finish. I am not sure she's ready for Sonlight which has a lot more reading than she's been exposed to. Online is working well for Melia so we are looking at a couple of "beefier" online programs.  Meanwhile, we'll make up her 9th grade classes and spend the summer working on the "holes" the MAPS testing revealed. 

(* Not to worry about Melia's finances. In addition to her A money, she earns $20 weekly taking care of children during our small group and we are taking care of her needs....and quite a few wants as well. )

March Family Gathering

This Saturday we hosted our monthly Family Gathering. Our celebrants for March are Cory, GG, Kaelyn (from afar), and Ellie. We missed celebrating Josi and Livie in Feb (they were traveling) so we had them join the singing crew.  We had a Taco bar, Ice Cream Cake and Earthquake cake. 

Ellie and Josi are both 2 now! AND LIV is a teenager. 

It is joyful chaos during these winter gatherings. I begin to wonder if maybe we'll be able to be outside the next time we are together....There is still a lot of snow out there. Michael is predicting the traditional Easter Snowstorm. 

GG turned 85 on the 15th. 

Melia, Jojo, Gideon, Benny, Annie, Bella & Livie

Michael and Melia carried out my vision to cover the tables in newsprint. I misplaced the tablecloths in the great organizational remake of Dec. The newsprint was a hit! I'll probably continue to do it. What it lacked in prettiness it made up for in creativity. Maybe I'll make some word hunts next month. LOL 

Yeah, we probably won't be playing outside next month....Pregnant moose keeps visiting. 

Trudy and Melia

Cousins - Charles & Noah

Josi

Ellie

Noah 

What a blessing it is to watch these "little ones" grow. I mean it's fun to watch Cory and Dad grow...but such changes we get to observe in the little ones. Each personality unique, all loved madly by Papa and Bachan. 

The day took a dramatic turn with a couple of unexpected phone calls and texts, but not everything is fit to be shared online. 

Note: Nolan, Stacia, Arielle, Michael and I were also present. Just missed the cameras. ::snort:: 

Friday Fun

 School is over for the week, and Melia is moving on to her afternoon activities. CoRielle brought the kids by for a couple of hours. Benny had fun watching the making of Rice Krispy Treats. Melia joined Stacia for a student government sponsored game night at the college. These got  a bit too hot and ended up crunchy like the brownie brittle you can buy. They were totally consumed so it didn't hurt anything.  

We received another fun package from Luke and Krista this week. We will save it for the kids to pick out what they want but she told us to pull out the makeup stuff for Melia and this little game is perfect for when the kids are over. 

There is a little chick safe in the shell...until you begin putting swords into the shell. At some poit the egg explodes and the chick pops out. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Bre is the master of throwing a theme party! She invited a houseful of friends to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with her and the children. 

Bre asked the kids questions about the day and about Saint Patrick and she also had a game for them to do in teams. The food, of course, was all green. There were green light bulbs, banners and leprechaun prints throughout the house. It was darling. 

Melia enjoyed playing with the children and I enjoyed visiting with the moms. It was a fun outing. 

Larissa brought some corn beef, cabbage and carrots. I was glad she and Noah came out for the day. 

Larissa & Trudy 

Cousins

Me and Bre

Girl group

Loved catching up with Stacy 

Larissa & Noah

Melia & Trudy

Arielle & children

Arielle & Ellie

Pile on auntie

Noah asked me to come into the playhouse with him....

  

I had plans to go out and shop for two gatherings I am hosting and a few things dad needed. In the end, I fell asleep for "just a bit." Melia finished most her school and succumbed to the temptation of a nap as well. 

We keep having far too many leftovers in the fridge. We had yet another yoyo dinner tonight. Stacia is at classes until after 9 p.m. 

Sunday Entertainment

Jared had a couple of tickets to share, and the girls took him up on the offer to attend an Anchorage Wolverines game at Sullivan arena. They met him at his home in Eagle River and drove in to Anchorage. 

Jared, Noah, Stacia, Melia 📷by Jared

This was the girls' and Noah's first hockey game. They report a few small skirmishes, but the refs didn't let them really fight. LOL The Anchorage Wolverines played the Janesville Jets and won 5 - 1. 

📷by Jared

📷by Jared

The girls got home about 7 p.m. and asked if we could watch "The Emperor's New Groove." Melia made popcorn.  She learned a valuable lesson - one should always ensure the top is on before commencing to pop the corn. 

It was a nearly perfect Sunday! We all went to bed early as we have early appointments tomorrow. 

 

Sunday Fun

 It's always fun to visit WCC when Michael preaches. These are two of my favorite pastor's kids. 

After service we took Benny and Danny out to lunch with us. It was nap time for the other kids. 

Me, Danny, Stacia, Michael, Melia, Benny

 We ran into old friends, Verdie and Cathy and their grandkids. Wow - have they grown! The girls headed into Anchorage from the restaurant. We took the boys home and spent a leisurely afternoon resting. 

Check out this pregnant mama. They seem to just KNOW where our yard is...we'll have to be careful in the wooded area again this year. 

Of Moose and Magpie

No soccer this morning. Michael had sermon prep, Stacia had homework and such. It seemed a good time to take Melia to shop for swimsuits. Which we did. We also enjoyed lunch out together. 

These two are back...and they make getting in and out of the car interesting. 

Ah well, they are fun to watch...even when they eat buds off our trees. Melia is CONVINCED she wants to FEED THEM. I have been taking ever chance to inform her they are WILD and can be aggressive and dangerous. You do NOT hand feed moose, regardless of a certain children's book you do not feed a moose a cookie. 

Speaking of wildlife, Michael noted some odd bird tracks in the chicken yard and wondered if we had a hawk. We were able to check out the ten security cameras and caught a magpie trying to break the chickens out of the coop. 

 

WE'RE BACK - A Tale of a Table and Hospitality and Adventures with Grandblessings.

Thursday, I cleaned house and made a manicotti dinner for our small group. A couple of kids came this week, and Melia was happy to watch them. We pay her for the weeks she is down with kids - though she truly enjoys spending time with them. Millie, our labradoodle, doesn't enjoy kids quite as much as Melia does. 

Chandler and Rebekah, a couple from our small group, weren't feeling well so we asked if a meal would be helpful. We had enough left over from small group to take a manicotti dinner and cookies to them this morning. I got diverted and talked much longer than was needful. Melia was beginning to wonder where I was by the time I got home. ::snort::

CoRielle's kids were due for our Friday date...I made it home before they did. We did the normal games and such...but I also enlisted a bit of help to finish dinner preparations. 

He did a great job with this job - and I stayed right there.

A fun toy from the library

Snow play

Charles refused to bring his snow clothes. He was told he'd need to stay on the deck but would still be going outside. I couldn't just let him stand on the deck, so he went to work out there for me with my special shovel for the Trex deck. 

The boys climbed the berms outside of our windows and walked the ridge. We can't see out the windows down there any longer. Look, the lilacs are blooming. I'm trusting they KNOW the right time to bloom. Seems a bit early for me with all the cold temps we are having. 

Benny convinced Danny it was easier to crawl through the yard than to walk. I'm not convinced. 

Meanwhile Ellie and Papa found things to do INSIDE! 

The kids went home to celebrate Cory's birthday! Melia helped set the table while I put the final touches on dinner. I had enough salad and melon from small group to serve tonight, along with rice and Chicken Divan. We had strawberry shortcake for dessert. 

As we worked, I began to remember. Our table began its life at Hospitality House in Misawa, Japan. When the ministry was closed out, they gave the table to a family from the chapel who was also involved with Hospitality House.  It was free with the stipulation it be used for ministry/hospitality around the table. When this family moved, they didn't have room in their household goods for the table and began to look for a new home for it. They gave it to us...It's big...and we have tried to keep it full and crowded.  We nearly moved the table downstairs as we didn't need a big one up here and we really haven't had much community other than family the last few years. 

  After Josiah was killed Laura, a dear online friend, sent us a huge box of puzzles and a couple of "ornaments" too. One said, "Be love" on one side and "Beloved Community" on the other. She knew our vision to love courageously and for community. She also sent one that says, "I want a house with a crowded table." She said they reminded her of us, and she suspected Josiah was the type to attract and create community as well.  He was.  Over the past few years as I've dusted, I've smiled at the ornaments and told God I trusted him to bring community back into our lives.  They were a sweet reminder of what life was like before and a promise that it would be again.  

It seemed pointless to have a big table upstairs when most nights there are only three of us to sit around it. I'm glad we didn't move the table downstairs.  Our season is changing, our doors are open and we have a crowded table once again.  We sense a restoration of community and ministry. To be sure we are a bit slower, grief still exhausts us, some days the load is heavy...but community is forming.  

We can fit 12 around the table - it's tight but it works. At this point our small group of two weeks, including kids, can sit around the table and it's been a great way to get to know each other.

Last week we had Eric and Ingrid over and ate and played games around the table. Tonight we had Paul, Jinnifer and their homeschooling family over. We love this family. Their daughter, Jane, is Melia's age and we are creating space for a friendship to form....actually for all of us. We were previously attending a life group that met in their home. That season transitioned for them, but we can still enjoy time with each other. 

Mike, Daniel, Melia, Jane, Lucy, Jinnifer and Paul

In the midst of the fun, I noted, with joy, the table is full!!! We had 8 around it tonight...12 will fit if we put 4 on each side and 2 on each end. Eight is comfortable...it was a joy to realize our rhythm of hospitality is BACK and we love it. 

Looking ahead to next week we'll be hosting the kids and March's family celebration, so I've chosen not to add another hosting event to the weekend. Next weekend we are hosting Melia's sisters over-night. 

Who should we invite next? And better yet, what are some meals you fix for a crowd? I'm running out of ideas!