Straight Roads

Stacia and I have been exploring various roads in our area. This dirt road off a main road captured our attention. She said she'd like me to drive her to the top and she'd ride down.  This is not from the top, she changed her mind. ::snort:: 

The guys got home from Red Shirt this evening. I'll have photos and stories to share when I receive them.

Jamin got back to Anchorage at 0200 this morning. He came out to visit and we are all glad to have him home. He fulfilled his obligation to the Marine Corps and, in the process,  realized the life of a Marine isn't for him.  As he learned from land nav class, he is making sure his compass is pointing in the right direction before he starts walking. We are convinced this was the right choice for Jamin and that God knows the plans He has for him. When it is revealed it will "uniquely fit" HIM.  (Jer 29:11).  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIm, and He will make your paths straight." (Prov 3:5,6) Some translations say, "He will make your path obvious."  In the blink of an eye, we have 8 Gherkins back in the area. Jamin has begun looking at jobs in the area and has a plan he's checking out and praying through.

Bella is a flirt and a tease!  She runs to Cory when the older uncles show up. Josiah and Jared have been patiently working to get in her good graces.  You can tell by her eyes she's playing. She actually let Jamin pick her up - the music on the iphone and his dancing helped. LOL

A few personal closing thoughts, it takes courage to obey God's voice when it's not what you expect to hear.  I've experienced  often plans which are changed, end up getting us to a place where God wanted us. It's all step by step. Nothing is wasted in God's economy and God will use Jamin's time at OCS.

Moosey Monday

Monday finds Cory back at work and Arielle working on College.

Izaak is also working this evening.

The boys and Michael left early with Josiah and Jared for one more Red Shirt trip before it's too cold to enjoy fishing. Of course, they are talking about ICE FISHING at the spot in the winter. I don't try to understand fishing logic.

I was settling back into the house, after seeing everyone off, when I got a text from Bre. "There are moose in the yard again."  I think we may need to keep an October Moose Tally here at the house. I nearly went back to bed, but then  realized I wouldn't have the problem with the "demon eyes" in the morning light.

These two tried to lick the RV....

They LOVED the brush pile on the other side of the RV and BreZaak's car. 

When a moose has an itch...

There eyes ARE black and filled in all the way....ok I've got this in the future. 

What was the rush? Her partner had found a better spot to glean. 

Can you see them both? 

 

Stacia and I had a lazy day. We took care of some things we needed to do around home, and ran to the thrift stores in town. We each found a winter coat for $17.  We look like marshmallows, but we'll be warm! We ended the night with a movie marathon - and stayed up way too late!

*We've had a freaky white truck stop at the top of our driveway a couple of mornings and take pictures. I'll relax, now. As I stood outside in my PJ's taking photos, I realized why the driver must have been stopping. 

Snuggles and Leaves

Gemma gets snuggle-time every morning when Bre takes a shower. I love this little one's smile. 

He's got matching dimples - 4 months old 

Sneeze 

I LOVE this photo of Bre and Bella enjoying a fall afternoon.  

Bella @ 17 months

Moose Visit

Sunday found our "household" at three different locations for church. 

We all met back together for Sunday dinner. I did not  take single photo. We enjoyed eating, began looking at Philemon, prayed for needs and talked over logistics of merging three households under one roof, so to speak.

Cory helped Izaak carry things outside. They looked up and were surprised to see these two.  It's amazing how close they can be without one noticing them.

Saturday's S'mores

Saturdays are days of much work and progress around here. Michael and the boys continued to pull out the wood,split it all, and make sure it was stacked with the wettest in the back.....We are still looking for dry birch to buy.

Stacia and I worked inside, created a menu for tomorrow's dinner, and went shopping. As the afternoon came to a close, Michael asked if we'd like a fire after dinner. YES. It's finally dark enough to enjoy it, not too cold....perfect. These hollowed out logs make great "chimneys."

We got the fire going, brought out the s'more fixings, and the kids showed up. Fun night. I wish it had been clear enough for a fire when JaRissa and Cy were out.

Arielle and Bella 

Warm feet 

Bre and Gideon 

Bre, Gideon, Izaak and Bella 

 We had brought some square marshmallows all the way from Oregon. Cousin Lorri had given them to us. It was fun to finally use them and to text her a photo.

Even Yuuki joined the fire

Gideon & Bella's  first campfire? Izaak demonstrates his technique while Bre & Alex look on. 

Cory and Arielle and Baby S

Sitting by the fire in the evenings is one thing we really miss about living in the RV. This was nice....and someday we'll have a pathway, a patio area and a finished fire pit....but for now...this works well. LOL There's nothing better than family, around a campfire, after a long day of work.

WE LOVE FRIDAYS

 FRIDAYS are wonderful!!!! Year's ago we established Fridays were for Pizza and movies. We used to make pizza. We have been visiting Papa Murphy's most recently - and we most often play games rather than movies.....but we love Fridays.  We've cut way, way back on eating out and that includes buying pizza.  This week we planned to make pizzas. We ended up doing Pasta Saturday on Friday instead.

BUT, first, I made Ooey Gooey Krisper Bars. 

Josiah surprised us. He had the day off and came by. We promptly put him to work splitting wood. 

JaRissa were coming out for dinner and, of course, we were thrilled to have Josiah too. The joke is, "Everyone else gets invited to dinner, I have to just show up." The truth is his schedule is so unpredictable we simply count on him to show up when he can. LOL

Bre and Gideon and Jared and Lassie (our Grand Dog)

It was a fun night of visiting - we never made it to the games. 

There was also this. 

 We've been trying to figure out one weekly "family dinner." We had thought Sunday afternoon - then yard games, games and what not, a quick devo and family prayer, followed by ice cream. BUT JaRissa have a very full day at their church and helping with the youth group in South Anchorage on Sundays.  Cy's schedule is UNPREDICTABLE (did I say that earlier)? We thought about Friday night, but Izaak has to work Friday night and Cory is often prepping to work early Saturday a.m.  We thought Saturday, but don't want to suck up every Saturday.....so who knows? This week we had a Friday night for all but CoRielle and Izaak.....and a Sunday dinner/family time with all but Cy and JaRissa. LOL 

Do Whatever You Feel Like Doing......

While the kids diligently worked on school, I used up some ripe bananas. I discovered several of us really like banana bread. 😇

We've noted we get RAIN and SUN in the same day. Today was a rainy afternoon. Michael worked on inside projects. Let me tell you the story of this picture.  He TOLD me he was going to hang the quilt on the right. I wondered how, but didn't give it much thought. I knew he had thought it out.  

 At some point in the day he asked, "Would you like these photos hung above the stairs?"

I replied, "Sure."

I went back to schooling and dinner prep.

I walked back by and saw THIS. He is standing on a ladder, something I don't like for him to do. But the ladder was balanced on 2x8s. One end of the board was on the stairs, the other ends balanced on two ladders below....and he grabbed his level and drill and balanced on this.

Photos and quilt hung above stairs

When I mentioned it didn't seem a very wise choice for a Parkinson's patient, he reminded me the Doctor had said he could "do whatever he felt up to doing."  I was pretty sure they didn't picture THIS. He responded it was, "Open to interpretation."

I haven't seen this in a bit of time. The two were out playing, "the game," today. It made me smile to see them, I didn't think they'd play the game in Alaska.

Blaine came, checked the chimney and installed the wood stove. 

It works well. Another project done!