Winter

Oh how I pray that it warms up across the state to at least the normal temp. We are in day 8 of a cold weather inversion of -40. I would be so thankful if it would only warm up to -20. I have friends that have frozen pipes and the end is not in sight. They are talking for at least another week and I am in absolute despair! It is not a good idea to drive anywhere in these temps, besides who wants to freeze their butts off by going outside! The air is bad now for even healthy people due to the lack of air movement. Lord, relief soon please?

My poor children are bouncing off the walls! They have been asking to go places and go to their tae kwon do class and yet it is not smart to drive into town for that. After all if the car does break down who want s to sit and freeze in a matter of minutes? Thank God for a large enough space for them to run around and burn off some energy at least. I was going to take them for fireworks for the New Year and yet who wants to bundle up like the Michelin man? Lord we are praying for a miracle!

Where O Where?

Where on earth did fall go? It is now winter here in Alaska. I am mourning the fall colors and weather:( It has been snowing almost constantly and while I sure do enjoy the beauty of the snow I sure was not ready to give up on fall. Especially with the summer we had. I heard yesterday on the radio that Alaska's glaciers will actually show a gain this year, due to the cold summer. It has been the coldest year in 20 years, go figure!

I thank God for His provision. I have been hearing stories from believers about their oil in their tanks. With it having been such a cold summer many of us had to use our oil furnaces. There are many that have either had the same amount in their tank when it was last filled, or there are those that have a few gallons more then previously measured. Talk about miracles still happening! The story of Elijah and the woman with the oil filling her jars is no less true today!

Ice Park 2008

So we went to the Ice Park while our guests were here. As you walk into the park there is a enter at your own risk sign which I find ironic. It says you are entering an Ice Park and that it is slippery and you need to be careful. Go figure! I am truly glad that we went early this year even though we didn't get to see the multi block sculptures. The weather warmed up so significantly (40s) that they were having to extend the contest and go to ultimate measures to save the sculptures from thawing.


This walrus greeted us as we walked into the park. He had already lost one of his tusks, but he was still beautiful!







We had to stop at the hardware store and get sleds for the slides before we went into the park. While the kids were in the octopus tunnel we put Ari in the sled and dragged her around. She loved it for awhile, then she started to realize that she wasn't being held. I am so proud of my little Alaskan, she didn't complain about being in the cold and handled it very well.




This was the biggest slide that was sculpted. You are sure taking your life in your hands as you climb these ice covered stairs! We had a blast going down it. The slide end is pretty long compared to the others so it feels like you go on forever.




Brent got such a kick out of this phone booth!

Ari and I watched and played as the kids (Ben and Brent too) went down the slides in the kids park.

On the drive home Ben spotted a fox on the Tanana River. At first we thought it was a wolf, but upon closer inspection and seeing him catch a mouse we came to the conclusion that it was a fox. Good eyes Ben!

Ugh!

Have I mentioned before that I absolutely hate being sick! The flu is in full force nationwide and since we don't ever really go anywhere, where on earth could I have got it? At least it was only a 24 hr bug. Thank God for Brent as he handled everything while I moaned in bed.

We have had at least two inches of snow in the last couple of days. It is so beautiful seeing it fall. We sat on the couch the other night after the sun went down and just watched it fall. It was neat listening to the kids talk about it.

We went sledding with friends from church on Saturday. We went on base to the ski lodge they have and enjoyed watching both the kids fly down the hill. The first time David went down we couldn't tell if he was laughing or crying. Ania kept going and tried going off the jump that had just been made. David convinced daddy to go down a couple of times to which Brent replied that his butt is too big for the sled. I went down with Ari one time in the inner tube and not only gave myself a heart attack but Brent too. Ari was quiet the whole way down. Never again! We almost went over the hill at the bottom that is there to stop you.

Mayhem and McDd's

We went into town today and spent the whole time in town. Ugh! Neither one of us likes going to town much at all so when it is grocery shopping time it is fun. I do enjoy the task of working in a budget and creating fun and healthy meals for us, but I sure don't enjoy the drunks hanging out in front of the store or having to fight your way through the aisles.

So we got that done and because it was so late and the kids hadn't been able to play all day we went to McD's. The dreaded place that is so loud and out of control. Won't be doing that again for a while. The kids are just crabby when we leave and so am I from having to listen to the screaming and banging around. They just put in games on computer type screens for the kids which I am not fond of at all. When I do take the kids there I want them to run around and play on the structures. Because it is so cold during the winter there isn't any way for them to do that outside. I will most likely take them to a different one when we go from now on. Besides I don't like eating out anyway..........

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

We have been working on many things on the house these last few days. Today was the basement and getting the new queen size bed ready for guests. I had an extra nightstand and new lamp that I could put downstairs in the guest room. Yes I said guest room! Wow! Never thought that I would say that in my own home. A dream come true. We are having guests in a few days. I am so excited! Haven't seen them in a few months and it will be great to get together and play Settlers and do many other fun things.

We also fixed the toilet downstairs and cleaned the basement from the many projects that have consumed us these last few months. We have still been working on putting things away where they belong and finding places for them without any kind of organizational items. We still have the ceiling fan (thank you mom and dad for the housewarming gift) to put in. Currently trying to figure that one out!@%">!@%*#?! The peak is a pain for a ladder and we are working on borrowing one that is tall enough. And since Brent is afraid of heights (go figure) one that I won't fall off of;)

We got the kids beds in their room and they are currently enjoying their bunkbeds. Yeah! David curled up in his the first night and was so cute. Ania is enjoying her space. I am hoping to decorate their rooms soon. I think Cars or camoflauge for David and Tinkerbell or fairies for Ania. Still thinking on Ari! Lol!

Still ahead of us is the main floor toilet which I don't want to get into but it needs fixing again. Live and learn I guess. I am also trying to be patient as we get the dishwasher taken care of. We got the one back downstairs so I now have room again in the kitchen and am not stubbing my toes on it. The other one is waiting to be taken to the repair shop. We'll see, I had know idea that once I got out of Barrow I would still be washing dishes. Never say never I guess.

I am so not looking forward to summer. So many projects and so little time. Between digging out around the house, permachink, garden, wood, etc. Need I go on?

Night Sky

Was out again last night filling the boiler before bed and looked up. I am so thankful we do not live in town. The stars were so clear and there was just a touch of the Northern Lights on the horizon. It just takes my breath away the way things are laid out and the Lord put thought into. Getting up this morning the sun was shining! It sure is brighter on the snow.

HUH

Got up this morning to -10. Literally jumping for joy while feeding the boiler. It is supposed to be above zero by Wednesday. So here is a picture to warm everyone else up.

Temps

So I am getting ready for spring. I am tired of the cold now but I know that it is coming. I can't wait for guests to start coming in this spring and summer. It will be fun to show them our piece of Alaska. I am hoping that maybe we can do some canoeing on the river and some fishing. I want to have enough salmon to last for awhile.

Pride and Predjudice

Okay so I have been on a Jane Austen kick lately. I can't get enough of her books or the movies that have been made from them. A friend from church lent me her copies on DVD of the BBC versions of her books and I must say that while the English people in them are not the most attractive I certainly enjoy their ability to act. I love Pride and Predjudice with Kiera Knightly and have watched it at least 50 times since we left Barrow. Now that doesn't include the times in Barrow:) I am currently awaiting the movie Becoming Jane, which stars Anne Hathaway, who is one of my favorite actresses. The author Debra White Smith has rewritten her books with a Christian theme in them and set in modern times. The english is a little easier to follow but it is still just as exciting. I love to sit in bed at night when Ari won't sleep and watch them while either wearing her out or working on one of my numerous projects. Wintertime is one of the perfect times to finish those projects that just never seem to get done.

Night Sky

I was out getting the boiler fed for the night at about 10:30pm on Saturday night, when I looked up. Granted there weren't all of the fancy colors that will appear as the night and winter go on, but I so enjoyed seeing the Northern Lights. What an amazing thing to see. It looked like a big green road that went from one end of the sky to the next. Just being able to imagine where it ended and I couldn't help thinking what a great thing it would be to just hop in the car and follow it to the end of the earth. I didn't get to see them much in Barrow so I am loving the fact that I can just walk right out my front door to see them.

I was thinking of all those that have come before me to live in this vast wilderness and the faith and determination they had to have had to continue living here. And yet I know, just like those who came before, that there is no greater place to be. Especially when you are in God's hand!

Motivation

So I woke up this morning late. Couldn't believe what time it was and that Ari had slept through the night. She has done this quite a bit, but the last few nights she has been teething. So I haven't been sleeping much. Plus I stayed up late watching a movie cause she went down late. Still kind of groggy!

Went to kids club last night and got to learn a new card game. Was it fun! I am so looking forward to the cribbage tournament on Valentine's. David squashed his finger in the door and cried about that for awhile last night. Poor little guy he was tired. I am so thankful for Mark, Sandy, and Janine.

I need to get some cleaning and straightening up done, but I just don't have the motivation right now. I am looking forward to the next few weeks cause hopefully I will be able to take time to get things put in their proper place and only have to do a little here and there after that. We have been moving some things around and putting them on new pieces of furniture as they arrive so things are still kind of chaotic. Although I have been looking at the garage and have some ideas of how I want it organized, but this does depend on what Brent says(after all it is his garage;)

So I think I am going to just enjoy my mocha and quilt that quilt!

Moose

So I was minding my own buisness quilting my newly pinned quilt upstairs and I look out the window and right in front of me is this guy. Between the time I got the kids to come look and grabbed the camera he had layed down in the snow. We sure have been seeing alot of these guys in our yard. I am hoping that Brent won't have to go out hunting, he can just sit in our yard and shoot them.

Snowing

It is snowing here! YEAH! We have had temperature swings like no tomorrow lately. From -40 to 40. Although the above 0 has been perfect timing for us. We ran out of wood and had to get some while the temps were good. I am thankful for the snow right now though. The insulation is great before it gets colder again tomorrow. God's timing is impeccable!

Frozen Faces

So yesterday Brent and I had to get wood to get through the night. Thankfully he was feeling okay and I put a face mask on. This is what happened after only 20 minutes in -30. Give Brent a few more minutes and he could look like Santa Clause.

Whew

We made it through the last cold spell. Thank God! We have been dealing with sub zero temps for the last four days which may not seem like that much to some but when you have to get out in it to get wood it sucks! Although, when it is that cold we are able to find and fix more air leaks in the house.

Brent has officially gotten sick! I now get to put up with a grumpy man and three sick children for who knows how long. We have to all be careful or we will catch something allot worse.

Sicko

Winter is so not fun when you are sick! David brought home some bad cold, passed it to Ania, gave it to me, moved to Ari, and we are waiting for Brent to come down with it. Uck! I haven't been sick like this in awhile, thank goodness. My husband actually put me to bed:) He takes such good care of me.

We have been busy getting wood, again! Also been fixing holes and making the house warmer. It has been -40 below or close to for most of this week. It is much different than Barrow in the fact that there is no wind. Thank goodness! I actually drove the car today with square tires. You have to just deal with it till the rubber warms up. Talk about a heart attack in the making, I thought I blew a tire! It is supposed to get to 0 or above in the next couple of days. Yeah! An Alaska warming trend. I do miss the sound of the snow blowing on the ground from Barrow but right now that is all I miss.

We had a visitor this week. Pastor Jamie came to see us. What an answer to prayer. Brent had a rough rotation and it was a great thing for him to see him and be able to chat. I hope they come to visit in the summer. Brent and Jamie share the same sense of humor and just feed off each other. It is a riot and truly enjoyable to watch them together.

Just Have to Show You

This picture is from Christmas but I love it so much I just have to show you! Ania and David both carried it by themsleves from our back woods to the front door, which is quite a ways. I am so proud of them. We figure that Ari will be helping them carry it next year!

Surprise!

So I got up this morning, late I might add! I went to add wood to our boiler outside and low and behold there was a gigantic moose eating on our side of the fence. She was HUGE! Scared the living daylights out of me. Ran into the house to get the kids and the camera. How cool is that? I love living in Alaska. Yes these animals are destructive and can total a car but it is so amazing to see one in its own environment. We do live in the wild after all!

Sunrise

I woke up this morning to a beautiful redish orange glow coming through my window. At first I thought there was a fire next door. Then I got up and looked and it was the most beautiful sunrise. It has been awhile since I have had the time to just look at one and enjoy. I also couldn't figure out why I didn't wake up to a cold house. I looked at the thermometer and it was almost 40. What a nice walk to get the paper and take the dog for a walk.