Spring Crafts

Stacia invited several friends (all the girls) from youth group to meet at the Art Cafe. They have been texting about it for a month or so, and it all came together today! 

Allie, Jenni, Noelani, Lorelei, Jess and Stacia 

It took about 20 seconds for me to realize some of my favorite people have youth daughters! I sent out a text and asked if they'd like to grab coffee or a table and do our own crafts. That is just what we did....and while this photo caught me mid-speaking - it's the only one with Nora in it and so I'll suck it up and post it. ::snort::

Me, Krista, Nora and Melany

Krista worked on a guitar that turned out really cool! 

Melany painted a pretty mug with wildflowers on the sides...

I painted a mug and figured if it doesn't turn out others will assume one of the kids or grands made it for me and they'll tell me its pretty and precious anyways! LOL 

This was a relaxing breather in the midst of a busy day. It was on to salmon and family.  This was doable because the girls jumped in and helped a LOT on Friday and Saturday morning. 

Do you know the story in the Bible about the fish and loaves and how the fish kept multiplying? I thought we were nearly done with salmon for the year. When I inventoried, I discovered TWO FREEZERS full of salmon....

Spring Study and More

The girls went into Anchorage today to spend the day and evening with Krista. As Stacia won't be available Friday morning, she joined Allie and I this morning for Breakfast Study. All three of us had a few "lightbulb" moments this week. We are currently working through, "Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me To Stand," by Kay Arthur. This week led to new and deeper understandings of Jesus as our redeemer. Good stuff. 

Michael and the girls left for their various appointments and errands when we got home. Dad seems to be fighting a bug on top of shingles - but it's pretty hard to pin down. He talked with a lot of his friends on the phone and that always makes him happy. By evening he was insisting he feels fine. 

I lit a candle, pulled out my lists and ingredients and spent the afternoon in my happy place. I made deviled eggs and an ice cream cake for Saturday's celebration.  Then I made brownies and muffins for a friend who just had a baby. Next up was Chicken Pot Pie - one for friend's dinner and one for Michael, Dad and Me. 

All in all it was quietly productive afternoon and I feel much more prepared for the upcoming couple of days...which will include friends, outings and a family celebration. 

Larissa sent some Noah shots...and you know...since I haven't shared any photos in the last day or two of sweet Noah...HERE YOU GO!   He will be 8 weeks old this Saturday. 

Hello, sweetie! 

Look at those eyelashes!

Spring Birthday - GG Turns 82

 GG - Dad - H. Paul Townsend - celebrated his 82nd birthday today! 

There is a fair bit of amazement he has arrived at this age. I asked what one goal he has for the upcoming year - a question we always ask. This year he chuckled and said, "Stay alive." 

We'll have a family celebration on Saturday, but we couldn't let the day go by without any notice.  This cake was a fun afternoon perk up.  GG was feeling better today and happy to be able to splurge on sugar. 

Spring Field Trip

Instead of watching the boys while Arielle went to work, THIS morning, I joined them for a bit of a Spring Field Trip. It may be 4 degrees outside, but we were warm and had our hands in the dirt!!! Spring is coming.  This was a fun outing to Ken's Garden Center. 

📷by Arielle 

It was a fun morning. I was a bit taken aback when the clerk said to remember not to put anything in the ground until June.  Reality.  It was a good reminder as I was thinking I was behind on seeds. LOL 

📷by Arielle 

This is a boy after my heart. He really, really wanted to plant watermelon. I have tried in various greenhouses for the past 3 years and know that they just don't set... and I would like the grands to enjoy gardening. We poured over the seeds. Finally, his mama found a pretty packet of herbs with flowers. 

📷by Arielle 

Danny was not 100% sure about playing in the dirt.

Danny & Benny 

Little Buddy was even MORE reluctant than Danny to play in the dirt. 

Little Buddy, Danny, Benny 

Bachan's proud little gardener! 

Little Buddy didn't want his hands in the dirt, but he was happy to empty containers I filled. 

I had never been inside to look around, and Arielle was looking for a specific plant so in we went. The boys helped me pick out succulents for the little pots Krista and the kids brought us Sunday. Benny was fascinated by the Venus Fly Trap...so I bought that too...now I'm wondering if they HAVE to have flies to eat to live and if I have to go hunt flies in the middle of winter  early spring!😀

When we finished, I headed further into town to our food co-op.  I came home a yummy roast in the instant pot. I am SO glad I had time to get it in before I left this a.m. We had a salad made, I threw some potatoes into the air fryer and we had a yummy dinner on a busy day. 

Grandpa is not feeling well. He is nauseated and simply spent most the day in bed. He's not complaining of shingles. I think he caught the flu - somewhere? Not sure where. 

*If I use the word SPRING often enough, I am sure warmer weather and flowers will appear! 

Spring Skiing

SPRING BREAK is made for playing....Stacia DROVE over to Jenni's home, and they went to Government Peak for a bit of spring skiing. She said she was doing well until the very end.... and then....

...a spectacular fall! She was so close.... check out how near the parking lot she was when she went upside down. 

Ah, but this is not Stacia's first biff on a skiing adventure with Jenni. Here she is earlier in the year breaking trail (yeah, I am behind on some blogging  - why not put all the photos in one spot?)

Jenni is one of the youth staff at church. She is also in our Life Group. We have loved getting to know her. 

Before skiing, the girls and I ran over to the Wasilla library. We had enough time to run over and back before Allie went to work. Unfortunately, I didn't realize they were CLOSED on Monday mornings. We miss being able to pick up holds at our LOCAL LIBRARY. We miss our LOCAL librarians. 

Stacia needed to repair her ski boot before heading out... In the process she found a project she had begun "over a year ago" - maybe last year's spring break. She finished a pair of pajama bottoms for Allie and a pair of PJ shorts for herself.

Thanks to Jenni and Stacia for sharing photos. 

First Sunday in Spring?

An odd thing happened to Stacia this morning. She fainted. Ears muffled, vision black and down she went. She was WHITE... devoid of color. About 10 minutes after the incident, she looked better, and I took her blood pressure. It was on the low side...88/65.  I was staying home with Dad today due to Shingles, so we kept her home too - just to watch her.  

We enjoyed playing a new game: Pickles to Penguins. OK - so the girls and I enjoyed learning a new game. Michael was tired and said he'd rather just sit and watch. Games with little strategic sense or logic are not Michael's favorite games. 

KrUke and the kids (we assume) rang our doorbell and dropped off spring gifts! SPRING. I am taking this as an official sign it IS Spring...that and the time change...we still have much snow...but we're calling it. Spring is here....Alaska style. LOL 

Checking out the spring gifts from KrUke

Hope you had a good Sunday. 

Educational Update

Intellectual with a touch of mischief! These girls ROCK! 

Allie has submitted her final assignment for her current two classes. She is 1/2 way through her AA degree. She made an A in both classes.  She's actually made an A in EVERY class with the exception of Math and Introduction to Screenwriting. Not too shabby! 😏 A highlight of this semester for both Allie, and Michael, is her 100% in her final Apologetics paper. She and Michael spent much time discussing concepts and then she wrote and wrote, and he edited, and she wrote more, and he edited more. She plans to fully enjoy her well-earned Spring Break. 

Stacia has received an A in her first class at Global University and has registered for her second class. This one is on computers and our hope is it will make the rest of her course work easier. She is also considering the various training options available to her in addition to Bible College.  Her trip to Hawaii put her a bit "behind" where she wanted to be in her high school course work - but she only has a few appendices to read to be done with high school. She will continue to take Japanese tutoring twice a week until she graduates from IDEA.  At that point she will have completed her high school Japanese lessons. Her plan is to continue with Japanese lessons and tutoring through college as she prepares to move to Japan. 

Krista has completed her first class on her journey to a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. She made 197 out of 200 possible points...an A. Go, Krista. All those hours alone in airports and strange cities are paying off. 

Izaak, Bre's husband, is steadily knocking out classes in his master's program and will shortly complete his Masters. I can't remember the exact title...I know it has something to do with counseling and drug recovery. 

Nolan is steadily working towards his BA in Business. 

Carrie is beginning her studies to get a BS to go along with her RN licensing.