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! 

Dad's Appointment and a Meet up with a Trooper

The week was active and fulfilling. 

Wednesday I took Dad to visit his new doctor again. We had some paperwork the home wants on file...after our visit we stopped for lunch at Sophia's Cafe. It was an added bonus to run into Lynette and Erin out enjoying spring break. 

We are pushing through spring break without a pause. Melia is in a good routine, and we are hoping to finish up the rest of this year's courses by the end of this month, so we can add some make up work before next fall. 

Michael and I dropped Melia off at Stacia's college and we drove into Eagle River for church at ACF. Michael preached again on Sunday at WCC - we are happy to have the Wed option. Melia and Stacia went over to the boy's home for a sibling game night. 

I didn't share about our adventure last Wednesday night coming home from church. It was COLD and we discovered my right headlight was out. We tried to replace it with a bulb we had and realized it was the wrong type. We drove on to Freddies, bought another bulb, and Michael again tried to replace it. All this repair work happening in negative temps. This one was also the wrong bulb. We decided to drive home. 

We drove down the highway, through Palmer, out the Old Glenn and were pulling onto our street when we saw bright flashing lights. 

"Do you know why I pulled you over?" 

Michael held up the bulb and told him the story. 

He wanted our proof of insurance and vehicle registration. This is the first time I've been stopped since we moved up here. I was sure I HAD the stuff but not sure exactly which folder or box it was in. 

It turns out our proof was dated 2022. 

Trooper Smith* asked me to find proof online. I began to do that - and, of course, when you are nervous nothing works quite right. 

At this point Trooper notices Michael hands are really shaking. He began to check the back of our car...."Where are you coming from?"

"Church." 

"On WEDNESDAY night at this time?" 

"Well, we had tried to replace the bulb, but yes church meets on Wed and Sunday." 

"Where do you attend?" 

"ACF, have you heard of it?"

"What's in the container?" (Ignoring my attempt to invite him to check out ACF.)

"What container?" 

"On the back floorboard." 

"Mini chimis." 

"Mini chimis from WHERE?" 

"Garcias." 

"Should I go try to get mini chimi's at Garcia's?"

"Sure, if you like them. They are good." 

"Why are you shaking?" 

"I have Parkinsons."  I helpfully add, "Please don't ask him to walk a straight line." 

"Where do you live?"

"The NEXT driveway up."

Shew! Appears Troopers get nervous when they see signs you may be overly nervous. We explained Parkinson's and he relaxed, greatly.  

We came home, fixed the light and this evening went to church again. Hoping Trooper Smith saw us and noted the repaired headlight. 

Man under the hood

We took Livie and Ellie home after church...when Michael noticed the left headlight was out. He'd replaced BOTH bulbs the day before. The old bulb was still in the car, so we put it back in and drove home. It backfired to try to replace both bulbs.

*Names have been changed.