Play Date with Benny

Kimber is  a blur! Benny isn't far behind her! They're playing with Kimber's new balls. 

 Arielle texted to see if I could watch Benny today while I was out. Cory had to work, Benny was a bit sniffly....I said yes. I knew Dad would love to see Benny...but they were all in bed when I got home. I put a note on his mirror - he's often up in the night.  I told him I'd be watching Benny and if he were ready to go at 0800 he could come with me. I also suggested he could call when he was up and I'd bring Benny over - usually around 10 or so.

Dad was up! We headed off for our grand adventure! Here Benny tells Dad, "GG, Cory wrestles me."  I told Dad he was going to need to up his game. ::snort::

Benny is potty training. I wanted a bit of privacy....but look at this...the FINGERS! I haven't had this experience in about 10 years!

His little voice, and the fingers under the door, made my day. 

We played lots of games. We gave this one to Benny at Christmas and he wanted to play it. I'm not sure how one is supposed to play, but we picked cards and said what they were...and we rolled the dice a lot...there seems to be no connection to rolling the dice and the rest of the game. LOL

ZEBRA

 We also played a "version" of Candyland. 

They decided to watch "Dinosaurs." 

Benny  keeps busy helping us old folks off the floor, weather its due to work out or movies. 

All the toys had to come off the shelf once again. A boy can never clean the shelves too often. LOL

He painted another beautiful picture. 

Then there's this game....a toilet game...with a plunger. I told Dad, "I think this is a potty training game."

Then Benny began flushing and plunging and it shot....product...from the tank....maybe not a very good potty training game. Or one can hope it's not predictive of his toilet days.

GG stretched out on the couch and took a nap. Benny wanted to watch Curious George, which I couldn't find. I laid down with him and cuddled in the play/craft/guest room and we both fell asleep.

Winter Walk

Poor Cody was so, so sad when Stacia took a shower and left him outside the door.

Patiently standing guard for "his" girl 

I was determined to get out and get a walk in. We had just enough times between appointments for me to get er done with Stacia. The walk put me at 81 active minutes yesterday!

Stacia and Cody - The Horgi (Husky Corgi)

Our paper delivery man has taken to setting the paper nicely on the top of the drift in front of the box. We had this shoveled, but the snow plow pushed a bunch of snow in front of it....so Michael dug it out again...we've tried to make it easy for him. I'm quite sure we'll find a paper or two in the spring.  My friend, Beth, suggests we rig up a pully system from the road to the house so I don't have to go out each morning to get it. LOL 

The winter IS beautiful. 

Having Cody here motivates us to get outside - even though it is so blasted cold.... ⛄ It was -6 this morning. We loved the time together. We weren't so crazy about Jack Frost nipping at our noses.

AND she spent the majority of the day in the snow...eating snow...we've talked to a friend who works with the wildlife up here. We are nearing calving season. They don't like deep snow. It could be perfectly normal. If she doesn't go looking for food - it's not so normal....unless she decides to have a baby right there in full view of my lens.  Stay tuned.

No, I can't tell if she is pregnant...but our woods do seem to be a moose neo-natal unit. We give them a lot of distance! Mama moose are as bad as mama bears. 

Baachan Gets a Personal Trainer

Benny caught me working out without him when they dropped by. My NP had suggested I start some strength/core training....I've been watching Krista and Stacia....I've done a couple of yoga workouts with Stacia and thought I'd hop onto the mat and do a bit core work......

I commented these planks were a piece of cake and I wasn't sure what the girls complained about.  Benny wasn't having it...he heard "plank"....

and KNEW I needed his assistance and wasn't doing it right. I love teasing him a bit...and the girls love taking photos. LOL

Such hard work being a personal trainer

 He was over the planks and ready to move on. 

Benny watches yoga workouts too. "Like this, Baachan." 

It's always so much fun when the grandblessings visit. I'm glad Benny was on hand to enliven my workout.

Benny knows a nutritious treat when he sees it, too. I made Fuhrman's Fudgesicles for his mama and we still make them around here in the summer.

*All photos in this post are from Arielle.  I'm so happy to see many of my offspring have caught the photo bug!

Spring WAS in the Air

We were feeling spring on Friday....the temps were in the upper 20's, the sun was shining bright, spring colors were everywhere. ...and then...well...

Snow...all night - not to worry these are silk 

 Our nicely shoveled pathway had about a foot of fresh snow on it...I slogged up the driveway to find Dad's paper.  Due to the snow plows shoveling mountains of snow to our driveway/shoulder (and where else COULD it go?) the newspaper box is inaccessible. We have been shoveling it out for the driver, but he stopped using it and simply throws it into the driveway. I suspect his aim isn't dead on and we'll find missing papers in the berms when the big thaw arrives.  I dug around, moved snow, couldn't find a paper. I looked up and saw THIS at the head of the driveway...

Her back was turned and I needed to go down the driveway to reach the house...off I went...and discovered BIG HER - the lump of snow to the left is my van....also between me and the house.

I came back inside and called the paper...then went to discuss my moosey adventures with Stacia. This is homeschooling at it's best...pjs and all.

We moved Cody's kennel to the foot of Stacia's bed. This is his safe place to go when Benny and Kimber visit. We wanted it ready for him as we often get surprise visits from CoRielle. He prefers to have the blanket at her side....but this gives him options. LOL

 I headed back out to check for papers and startled Big Mama. Her head was ON MY VAN....folks...she was close. I didn't take her picture. She and baby ran around the snowman and to the side yard. 

Baby meets first snowman? 

View out the window by the table...

 

So cute - from this side of the glass! 

Arielle and Benny did stop by. Arielle and Stacia are planning a booth for the upcoming Bella sale. They went over contract and display details.  Benny brought me another work of art for my gallery. 💖 Arielle and Benny left to run errands. 

This popped up on my new phone....

Via Arielle

I threw shredded pork I'd canned when it was on sale, chilies, a bit of tomato paste I found in the fridge, some other tomato based left-over, and salsa in the slow cooker. My plan was tacos for dinner. 

Michael and I headed to the VA clinic in Anchorage for an appointment he had. All is well. 

I got home with 40 minutes to get dinner on the table. Nolan and Alex had just gotten home and were heading out to shovel.  This evening's activity was cancelled and we had a bit more time for dinner. This was good as the concoction in the pot was much saucier than expected. I opened our last box of potatoes from the fall's harvest and baked potatoes instead. It made a nice topping.....filling they all said. I opted for a giant plate of greens with beans, nuts, sauted veggies and a boiled egg on top. LOL 

A note to remember - the red potatoes in the garage are wrinkling and growing arms. The Yukon Gold's are still in great shape. More Gold's; less Reds this year...  Or ,I need to can some of the Reds. 

Stacia  air fried some cauliflower nuggets for dinner. As the fryer was out - I tried some chick peas...and it worked. They are crunchy and yummy and zero points! 

Regardless of the weather , we did have 10 hours and 38 minutes of light today - SPRING IS COMING. 

Sunday Snippets

It snowed a bit ....we shall see what that will do to our beautiful field of silk daffodils. At this point - well - take a look. Cody added some color to the scene.

And...just because I'm really happy to be 40 lbs less than I was at this time last year...here's a photo. I have one more month in this first year of my journey back to health....I am NOT going to make my goal which is 25 lbs away....but I'm going to give it my all this month. NSV (non scale victory) new pants in a much smaller size. Enough said - for now. ::snort::

After church the "kids" and Dad went out to eat and came home. Michael and I stayed for the church's annual business meeting.

It seemed fitting to end "birthday month" by finally opening presents. They're good sports; Michael is still working on the gifts for the older boys. We still need to make it to the Extreme Fun Center for Alex's celebration.

 

I finally decided I was going to have to put my old phone out to pasture. It acted up at church. I was following along in You Version...we went from chapter 1 to chapter 2 with no trouble. When I clicked THE SAME ARROW to go from chapter 2 to chapter 3 - IT BEGAN TO READ CHAPTER 3 OUT LOUD. The volume was turned down - it was loud. The pause button wasn't working. I was holding the power button and it didn't turn off....I had hoped only pastor and those around us heard...but it turns out they heard the phone in the back. That's IT....I may well begin taking my physical Bible again....and I am working hard to rebuild this new phone to the way I want it. LOL

This may have been a better way to spend the afternoon....though I'm not sure what game they are playing. The first photo on the new phone...

Didn't See THAT Coming!

Most know our retirement from the Air Force Chaplaincy has not looked like planned - at all.

Michael's diagnosis of Parkinsons kept us from our plans to move to Japan as missionaries. His mother passed away. My mother passed away.

We were thrilled to move to Alaska...and the only thing we felt "sure" of in our spirits was we were going to "support a young pastor."

The hunt for a new church home was arduous. ::wink:: Michael visited Matanuska Assembly of God on a week when I was home. He came home and said, "I think this is the church and the pastor we were sent to support."  I visited the next week and agreed with Michael's assessment. The rest is history.

A year ago Michael was asked to become an elder.  This was a role we'd not considered, but after praying about it - it seemed right. Michael also leads Men's ministry. We host and lead a Life Group. We have been busy with counseling - together (a new thing for us after military ministry where I was not involved in formal counseling sessions) and I lead women's Bible study and am co-Director of Women's Ministry.

As we prepared for this business meeting I found myself reflecting. We are thankful for a church home where we are allowed to function in our giftings.  When so many doors were being closed to us, we had the sense ministry was not over for us, but it would look different than expected.

Today, we reflect on God's faithfulness. He is with us every step of this retirement /Parkinson's journey...and today, my heart overflows at being able to see a glimmering of why we are in the Matsu Valley rather than Northern Japan.

In December Pastor asked us to pray about pastoral staff transitions at the church. Today,  we step into a new role in our ongoing call to support our pastor...Michael was named as an Associate Pastor at Matanuska Assembly of God. Didn't see THAT coming when we moved out here.

As some of you will wonder...we are still licensed and ordained with Open Bible. We are not required by Assembly to change our credentials in order to be associate pastors. We have only found a one word difference in the denominations statements of belief...it's a good fit.

We are excited to see how God continues to plant us here in Alaska...

Fur Rondy 2020

Where  can you see a bear, in a tutu, wearing a tiara? 

Fur Rondy!  An 85 year Alaskan tradition. It is our state's largest winter festival, "with a schedule full of events that celebrate winter and life in the Last Frontier.

Krista joined her reserve unit in the Outhouse Races...that's right one of the Gherkins has been in an official outhouse race at Fur Rondy. We're official!

Stacia and Krista via Krista's photos

We got a late departure from the valley and missed the races, but Stacia went in early with Krista and caught them.

Michael and I caught up with BreZaak for lunch. We loved the chance to catch up on all the new things swirling around their lives. When we got home, Dad was ready to head for Fur Rondy. I was happy to see him wanting OUT....his feet have been hurting him. He wanted a selfie in front of our fake daffodils, but my arm isn't long enough to get the flowers in.

Doesn't he look cold? At this point he was still not sure he needed his coat. Later in the day he was happy I insisted. The snow boots were handy too. 

We headed for the ice sculptures. The judging isn't until Sunday a.m. We got to see many teams in the process of creating their sculptures. It was COLD...like 12*.

I found the clay models fascinating. 

The girls stepped into a store for Krista to get feeling back in her feet....ouch. When all were sufficiently warm, they met us over at the sculptures.  

Front - Me and Stacia
Back - Michael, Krista, G Dog

 On our way home we stopped at Alaska's oldest family restaurant. It is directly across from Merrill field - a small craft airport. Dad would like to come back on a clear day to watch the planes. Everyone enjoyed the food and the service was incredibly personal and friendly.

The men headed to Eagle River. They picked up CODY! We had asked for joint custody; Josiah rebuffed the proposal. He did, however, agree to let us have him for a few days this week.

The gals went shopping....and we all met up back at home in the valley...it was a great day. Cody was happy to see Stacia.