getting clearer

Soon, we will be making muffins from our own berries. I can't wait. Time to pick is towards the end of August here.



Rainy days...



He likes to pedal like the Flintstones because it is faster for now.



Such a sweetie. Wearing a dress from g.Debbie to dad's board meeting Monday night. We were introduced as a family at the recent hospital board meeting at CPGH. Luckily the children took good naps and were well behaved at the meeting. Julia introduced herself as a ballerina :) and did a little dance for everyone. Never a dull moment.




Trying to catch the end of the rainbow...wearing her red slippers and him carrying his "Bob D Builder Hat".

They're feeling a bit rosier. So, we're off to the library--storytime.
ps.storytime was great again. I will start posting the books Miss Mary is reading because her choices are terrific for little ones.

Sickies

We've got a houseful of snotty noses. WAh wah. They are in pretty good spirits which helps. Will update when we're all clear :)
Take care

Come see us

Well, unfortunately William has declined the votes to make the princess bed! So, I tried to find some twin over full bunk beds that are a bit less complicated. The one above is for sale at Costco in Anchorage and I love the color the wood is stained. He says this is more appropriate for him to build. So, we'll see. As those winter months creep upon us and there are less fish to catch Julia might have a bunk bed like this one in the works.




Update on our date... We did go fishing and it was tons of fun. I didn't catch my own salmon, but when William snagged one he let me reel her in.
One of the most beautiful parts was watching the seagulls chase a bald eagle on and off for about 30 minutes. It was a beautiful evening and the setting standing hip deep in the Kenai river amongst all that nature was very refreshing!



Since I haven't been very good about remembering my camera lately, I pulled some stock photos off google of things you can easily see in our neck of the woods.
It is really a pretty place to be and we feel blessed to be able to experience it.



This is something we see daily and what we look out for on the roads instead of deer. It is one of those places where you can't feel guilty if you have a huge SUV, you feel more like you are trying to protect your family in case you have a run in with a big moose.

Well, we'd love to have visitors...so start planning a trip and we'll grill you up some salmon (and hopefully soon halibut and moose burgers)

Bunk Bed

Julia wants a bunk bed and if you know William there's no way he's going to buy one, so I found a few ideas for ones he can make for her. I think they are sooooooo cute. He said "there's NO WAY he's making one that elaborate". I thought it was worth the try. But aren't they cool??

Atleast maybe I can pick the color of the wood stain and I think I have figured out fabric for the bedding. I thought I could mix up different Michael Miller themes like his Dick and jane collection and dots. The reason for something not too girly is because at this juncture Julia likes sharing a room with her brother -- so I've been trying to think of unisex ideas?? Or maybe a moose/bear campy theme?

We are getting our first babysitter tonight. William wants me to try my hand at this fishing thing with no distraction. I said "can't we just go see the new Harry Potter?"
I know what a bad sport...I will do my best to focus on the catch instead!
Well the children and I are off to playgroup. Have a beautiful day--it is cold here today--brrrrrrrrrr!
the chilly bumps

Craigslist free section.

This is the funniest listing I have ever seen on craigslist:




110+ 1 quart yogurt containers. A few lids too.

They're great for all sorts of things. We just haven't figured out what yet!

All or nothing.




...The best part was the picture they had of all the yogurt containers...they had really put some time into offering these to someone for free.

We may have to get them to keep salmon eggs in for the upcoming silver salmon fishing time. For the moment it is still red salmon running through the Kenai river.
Julia managed to go back to VBS today even though she was scared off by a Roman Guard yesterday. I convinced her that he was only a teenage boy dressed up acting and I stayed with her the whole time today. John enjoyed going today as well since he got to tagalong. We then went to play at the McDonald's playland since the weather is a bit rainy and cool this week.
I have neglected to carry my camera with me much lately, but I will do a better job of it soon. We are literally so busy just taxi-ing William to work and back that the days fly by!
Thinking of you all
The Rushing River Tuesdays

Sleepy Sunday

Preserving for hard times....okay we're there and it's been tasting pretty good. The last time we put a brown sugar soy and terriaki marinade on--yum!




John's new bargin trike.




Julia's little 5c toys from a yard sale--the Wizard obsesseion continues.


We have been enjoying a peaceful rainy day. It has just been drizzling and there's a bit of a chill in the air. Hope winter isn't already starting!
We made it to church this morning and I met a hygienist in the area who will keep my informed if she hears of anyone needed one once I get my Alaska License.
This afternoon we vacumn sealed some salmon and I went to pick up a radio flyer trike i found for John on craigslist. The little ones rode it around the livingroom since it was rainy--joys of having no furniture!
Then we all took naps and just woke up.

Yesterday we went to Nancy (the office manager at Willie's work) and Steve's home for a little welcome to the area party for William.
It was so much fun and one of the ladies brought face paints for the kids. And even a few adults got in on that action (okay--I left with Hello Kitty on my cheek).
It was nice to feel welcomed and surrounded by nice folks.

Now that we're up I am sure William is about to head to the river for his limit. And to answewr Lili's question. We are going to store it away for the long long winter and eat on it til next summer. I put a post out on freecycle for a pressure cooker--so maybe we can can some of it soon as well to make dips and croquettes, etc.
One day we want to get a smoker so we can smoke some too.

Think little miss J will go to VBS this week. She's excited.
Well, thinking of you all--
the sleepy Sundays

Bye Bye Winnie

That's right. We parted ways today. Her new owners name is 'Red'. A nice retired man from New Mexico, that comes here to fish in the summers. He needed a motorhome to stay in during his visits each year instead of renting one like he has been this summer.
Ole Winnie got us such a long way thanks to my dad and William's hard work getting her prepared for the journey.
This week is sheer madness in the Kenai peninsula. The red salmon have arrived and so have all the folks from the rest of the state. The streets are bumper to bumper and Fred Myer is coated in Rv's.
William has caught his limit each day. So our home is overflowing with salmon. My new friend Kristen spotted a food saver at a garage sale for us today. So now that we bought the most expensive part (the bags) we can fire it up and see how well it preserves.
Of course I did my share of garage saling today as well...Found John his first pair of Carhart pants for a quarter, a set of Christmas dishes/bowls/mugs for $2, two little decorative turkeys for thanksgiving...okay, I am nesting.
Last night we borrowed Allison and Phil's Suburban to go into Anchorage and pick up our new dining room table I found on craigslist. William was a very good sport about it even though he was missing valuable fishing time. It is a bit of a risk to drive 3 hours to pick up something like that, but we were pleasantly at peace when we saw the table. Our first lil piece of furniture--and it makes it feel more like a home.
The only other thing we have purchased here other than the Subaru is a new vacumn cleaner. I was so excited until the brush bar stopped working in the first 10 minutes. Luckily Lowes was happy to exchange it for me. They had already price matched with another store and taken an extra 10% off when I bought it and so i was glad they didn't give me any hassles when I brought said lemon back.
Oh, I know this a boring post. I am avoiding making 3 peanut butter pies and some cookies for a get together honoring Williams arrival tomorrow afternoon. Not so much making them it's locating the Kitchen Aid.
Well, I will go since you are all asleep from this. Thinking of you!!!-Lou

Faith

Our first time clamming about a week ago.



We drove south about an hour and went to really pretty stretch of beach when the tides were out.



My favorite thing at Dondies in Des Arc was always clam strips and the apple coleslaw stuff..I had visions of clam strips in my head...



We had so much fun! We didn't get enough before the tide came back in so no clam strips for me that day. We then drove on down to Homer AK and had lunch at a little spot on the sea.

*******************************************************************************




There's always time to do the will of God.
Spiritual highs are usually followed by spiritual setbacks.
God's presence doesn't guarantee immediate success.
We must get ready to hear God.
God never asks us to do something without giving us the way.
When we feel distant from God, we are the ones who have moved.
We have no light. We reflect God.
One person can't do everything, but one person can do something.
Even when we fail, God is with us.
A lighthouse doesn't have a horn; it shines.
We are constantly faced with opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible obstacles.
God graciously provides for us.
As we obey Him, we experience His presence, peace, and provision.
Settling for the "good" robs of us God's best.
Security and happiness is achieved by complete obedience to God.
God has a plan and a place for me.
We need to be zealous by having a vibrant relationship with God.
When you know God, you can't help but praise Him. When you praise Him, you love Him even more.

***Oh my, today I had my first really blue evening since we got here. You know the kind that just hits you out of left field and makes you sob uncontrollably about a sadness hidden deep within. Just the realization that we are so far away from everyone and even farther away from my mom than I was before just came to me like an epiphany that I was obviously trying to sweep under a rug that I no longer own.(shouldn't have sold it in our yard sale!)
And then after the pain subsided, and I took a steamy hot bath, took 4 advil, checked my email and then decided to check my friends blogs...I found the above writing on Laurel's blog about what she is so glad to have learned and at BSF last year. It is so amazing how God speaks to us. He just totally puts me back in my place and makes me thankful for all the good He has provided.
So, tonight I can rest and put aside my impatience and my sadness because I am reminded who is in control. It is a beautiful BEAUTIFUL peace that is found in Christ alone!

My husband doesn't come home

I kid you not ... he leaves after work and fishes until 3am ...HE'S HOOKED!!!
I need a nanny next July, so I can put in a line as well. Anybody want to au pair for a few weeks next summer let me know!! We have taken them with a couple of times, but it is hard to concentrate and entertain them :)
Julia seriously wants a hook on her line...it is so sweet!
I met up with my new friends Angela and Kristen for storytime at the Kenai library this morning. Julia and John loved it! The books the librarian read were really great and she just has a way with little ones. It even made me excited to be at the library (not a place I frequent, but maybe it will be).
Julia and John got their first package in the mail yesterday. Grandma sent a barbie and a helicopter. They love them and loved getting FUN mail! THANK YOU!
William and I also love the jelly.
Without our family and friends support and love we could never had made this journey! Thank you!

The fishies that didn't get away...

Here they are Willies first Alaskan caught fresh red salmon.
We are sooooo proud of him!




Yum...we could only eat about a fourth of one of the fishes before we were all full.




Daddies little helper.


We have many more pics from the past week but these are the most important ones...soon to come ones of us clamming and just enjoying the Alaskan summer.

William's first week of work went well and here we are already on week 2. He said he did a full mouth extraction today where the teeth literally went flying into his assistant's hair--So gross--he said she washed it quickly afterwords. I can't imagine and much prefer cleaning the teeth to his icky job!

Julia and John have done very well adapting to their new home. They LOVE all the parks in town and being close to the beach. Julia has been working on casting and thinks she is ready for a hook on her fishing pole. We say NO to that one, but she has got a pretty awesome cast for a 4 yr old.

I have been primarily William's taxi lately and have been getting very familiar with the different parts of town. Our apartment is really centrally located and pretty big. We still have no furniture - fishing has been our main focus. This week ahead is apparently THE WEEK where you can just throw your line in and fish just dive on. We'll see--we aren't legal to dipnet this year, but next year that will be tons of fun.

Well, we miss all those friends and family back home and I feel like we missed Steven's Bday, but I hope not. And a special shout out to my cousing Ricky for his coming up this week. Thinking of Larry on Wednesday!! Our love,
the fishing like crazy family!

Santa in the 4th of July parade



The beach we went to today (about a 5 min drive from the apartment)



The moose and her baby after we got the camera out...



Our sweet beach buns....we love them sooooo much!!!!



Things are going along well this week. A big shout out to Jodi for her birthday Wednesday and to my mom for hers on Thursday! Miss you—wish we were there to share some cake!
William has seen just a few patients the last 2 days because they are busy doing more paperwork and even fingerprinting, oh, and a bit of touring town to meet the local natives and eat their smoked salmon (ie squaw candy)…yip, Dentistry is not so monotonous when you get out of the office most of the day 
He is already drumming up fishing trips through work folks—hope he catches one soon.
We got our drivers licenses last week and here you have to do a written exam—that’s right…it’s been a long time since I took that…I think I was 14—so I had to study the book for a few hours and of course it had questions that are so odd, like how far do you park from a fire hydrant? Anyway, we passed and are official Alaska drivers…watch out moose!
We also, had a momma moose and baby moose in our back yard a few days ago. That was pretty exciting since we’re new here.
Here’s an example of how small town things are…
A lady I met at church didn’t have my phone # and wanted to call me today, so she called my realtor to get in touch with me, who then called me and gave me the message and phone #. Complicated to read, but just very personal service. The lady from church wanted to get me in touch with a girl who wanted to invite us to a play group… Henceforth, this afternoon, we joined a new playgroup. Which by the way is organized through community funding at which they also have storytime and include a snack and drink for the children. Pretty good fun!
So, I met a few new moms which were all really nice.
Well, just getting settled and thinking especially of the birthday girls and both my grans that are on opposite sides of the world from eachother and mean the world to me!!!!
Lots of love coming your way.
The repartment (as Julia calls it) gypsies…

Starting work

Sunday the 5th of July already! Wow.
We feel like time has really been flying since we got to Alaska.
William starts work tomorrow. He is excited and full of anticipation.

Kenai had a 4th of July parade that we went to on Saturday. They still throw candy at their parade, so Julia and John loved it. And where else can you meet an elk, Smokey the Bear, and Santa Claus all at one time!! We grilled hamburgers and after we got the children to bed had a date on the front porch which consisted of drinking coffee and talking while watching the sun never set. Okay, we were a bit homesick especially knowing that everyone was together with friends and family at home.

Today, we went to church. We were welcomed by very friendly people and enjoyed a nice service. A doctor originally from Chattanooga, TN invited us over to their home for lunch and that’s where we spent the remainder of the day. Her and her husband were great to have us over and the grilled salmon and halibut for a true AK greeting. They made the move up last summer and seem to really be enjoying their new life in Alaska. They have a greenhouse so they can grow tomatoes and raised beds to grow other vegetables in as well. The whole day really helped us to feel more at home and very welcome.

Love ,
The cleaning out Winnie to sell her Un Gypsies…

Start me up Alaska style.




that hair...




First things first...





When you stay up until after midnight each day because the sun doesn't set you tend to need coffee the next morning. The sun not setting also extends your afternoon fishing time. This little house feels like a mansion compared to the winnebago.
-- Papa fisherman