Turning 62

I had a very full birthday today! 

I woke up and went with Stacia to take her car to the mechanic. On the way home she bought me a birthday bevvy. 

I was just finishing the first drink when door dash arrived with a Bevvy all the way from VA. Thank you, Allie. 

I went into the day fully caffeinated! I met over at Cory and Arielle's and Arielle, Benny and Danny and I headed to watch Aladdin Jr. All the actors were 6 - 18 years old and they all did a great job! Thanks for the birthday play, CoRielle. 

Back at home, Michael was up but not feeling well at all. The girls and I headed into town to pick up Stacia's car and grab dinner at  a local restaurant.  

We decided to go home and spend some time in the hot tub. The sky cooperated and we had a lovely clear night of stars to enjoy while we talked and soaked. 

Krista video called from Okinawa. Our rather boisterous conversation alarmed several who passed by her car. It was a great day all the way around. 

My favorite active-duty chaplain 

I find myself having turned 62. I remember being so excited when I turned a respectable 30 years old. ::snort:: I am taking a page from a dear high-school friend who counted 60 ACTS last year to celebrate her 60th year. ACTS defined as:  Adventures, Connections and Travels. I started counting last year and lost track - which I decided is perfectly fine. The intentionality to be present and to fully live life is more important than the tracking of it...and so I am going to be intentional about choosing adventures, connections and travels this year. 

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. 

Fun @ Home

 After a busy day we were happy to have dinner and games with Krista and Nolan tonight. Nolan usually wins our games - and he won twice tonight. Michael won one game. 

The girls were out socializing. 

WSA CGO of the Quarter

 Every quarter across the Air Force each base gives out awards for the best performance in a multitude of categories.  Each group's winner will compete at the wing (base) level.  

Today, Krista was notified she has been selected as the Wing Staff Agency's (WSA)  Company Grade Officer (CGO) of the Quarter. Her package will now compete against all the other CGO winners across the base. 

Krista has presented 61 suicide prevention trainings and another 40 that she oversaw. She has done 38 sexual assault prevention response trainings.  She has lots of counseling hours, written a zillion religious exemptions, led a service, planned and executed many resiliency events for the med group, coordinated and helped lead funeral training for both the Air Force and the Space Force, planned and executed a parenting retreat and I know there are many details I have forgotten. 

I asked for a photo....

We are proud of Krista! This is quite an accomplishment for a new chaplain. She's been busy the last 7 months. 

A fun side note - Krista is well known and loved in the Med group. She spends quite a bit of time in her unit and at the hospital. One day a volunteer at produce co-op asked me if my daughter was an active-duty chaplain.  She had noted the same last name before Krista got married. It was fun to see Krista through the eyes of one of med group. 

Friday of Wedding Week

 What a DAY....Most of us didn't get to sleep until after 2 a.m.  and we were up all day - running most of it. Friday - Wedding Rehearsal day....

It is such a blessing to have Heather and Larissa here! Both JUMPED in to help today. Running errands, arranging flowers, watching Grandpa....they made a day which seemed impossible this morning flow smoothly. 

📷 by Maria

Heather and I took Allie to work. We sat in the driveway over and hour catching up when we got home. Arielle, Laina (friend, photographer) and the boys stopped by to see if they could help - and to visit with Nate and Heather. 

We loaded things into the cars, made fireweed lemonade, Stacia decorated the wedding cake and Benny and Heather picked dandelions. Krista is going to fill Bella's basket with them for tomorrow. 

Arielle, Benny, Heather (Sister in Law)

While we worked, Jared and Nate spent time with Benny. Here Jared and Benny "tickle" the chickens. 

📷 by Larissa

Krista and Maria arrived.  Bre and the kids arrived. Krista and Luke are having a picnic wedding. Note I did NOT say a "picnic themed" wedding. They are having a literal picnic and will take 15-20 min for their ceremony at the picnic.  Krista wanted us all to pick wildflowers and then make the bouquets for the bridal party. We  went out to look for wildflowers.   Please note, Larissa checked and was told we could pick up to 100lbs of flowers, we needed to cut the stems and leave the roots. At one point a car stopped and told us there were 2 bear cubs 300 feet ahead. 

📷 by Larissa

📷 by Larissa

📷 by Larissa - Larissa and Maria

📷 by Larissa - Alaina friend, photographer

Bre, Heather and grandblessings!

Maria - oh how I LOVE having her here!

Nate - my brother - leading our flower hunters

Ah, this is the same flower he used to tickle chickens. Benny picked a bunch of these and gave them to us. He said, "If a bear chases you, tickle him." Ok - that's one way of dealing with bears. LOL 

I took the photo and yelled such helpful tidbits as, "Don't sprain your ankle before the wedding." 

We are LOVING our time with Larissa. So glad she was able to join Jared. 

Larissa and Arielle

Arranging flowers....we placed them all in sugar water. 

I picked up Allie from work. Michael texted he had ordered pizzas for us to grab. We had just enough time to scarf down a quick dinner and then head to the church for the wedding rehearsal. Larissa, Heather, and Alex stayed home with Grandpa. 

Tomorrow, T rex will hold rings and Benny will take him up the aisle. Bella will be the flower girl. 

Bridal Party

Stacia, Allie, Brittany, Maria, Arielle, Bella, Benny

Groomsmen - Nate got pressed into service - friend stuck on slope

After the rehearsal we stayed up and visited. It's midnight and I'm the only one up. Michael did another store run..... tomorrow is the big day.

No wind or rain is forecasted. 

Garden in May

Thus begins the Garden 2020 - it takes a bit of faith to try to do something as normal as gardening in 2020.  I love watching the little shoots push their way through the dirt....

May 10th

May 11th - the old timers say to plant when the birch leaves are as big as squirrels ears. Others say to wait until Memorial Day weekend as one can never count on frost free evenings until that point.  The leaves are THERE...and it's getting hard to resist planting in the beds that are ready....

Krista and I went to a plant sale at the high school. I bought two beautiful fuchsia's for the front. I've NEVER grown these - but I love the colors and this is a partial shade spot.

Moving  these in and out is getting old...and I need space for more starts. Next year I will build some sort of growing set up with more space and lights...but this is working and the priority this year are new garden beds and fixing the greenhouse.  

Michael has a plan for covering a couple of the new beds so that the tomatoes can go outside. 

May 14th - Michael finished a couple of beds and Alex is working on the last two. 

While they worked on building beds, I weeded the two we have. I covered them with plastic and figured that would help to heat the soil....it's getting harder and harder to wait until Memorial Day Weekend - May 31st/June 1st to plant.

Another couple beds ready. The garage door panels were a free find. They are working great for beds. 

May 15th and I've moved a couple of card tables outside. The starts which have been in the greenhouse shelf are hardy enough to spend their days on the tables outside. This frees up the greenhouse shelves for new starts.  I carry everything inside at night. I am loving the color GREEN. 

Zucchini can always be counted on to grow. 

Dreaming and planting for pickles.