Fall changes...

Fall - one of many favorite times of year for me.
I am always ready for fall and the color changes...it also signals school supplies, books, and schedules (more favorites for me) :)!

A beautiful day on Wasilla Lake.
Bumpa with all his grand kids checking out how the boat rides.


Getting ready to head to Whittier. 4 of the 5 boys in our family went for a guy's only trip with the boat to Whittier.

These were the two boys who couldn't contain their grins, the big boys were excited too - they just didn't show it quite as much. They had a beautiful day and a wonderful time was had by all.

Vince created this 'bread bowl' for the campaign dinner mom & dad had last week. It is his cabbage leaves inside a birch basket. He really enjoys cooking and presenting food - this is a good thing :).

Christine has started Rhythmic Gymnastics and is loving it! For several years she has wanted to do this, I've held off because I figured she was too young to really appreciate and practice what she learned. I think it worked - she is practicing all the time, she's stretching further and further. She can hula hoop for a long time and controlled balance spin it on her hand too.

She has come so far in such a short time! Yes, she is hula hooping 2 hoops at the same time. That is a bridge on her toes!!!!

This was my creative outlet this weekend...3 pairs of jeans became 2 skirts for CJ.

To make a long skirt I had to use 2 pairs of jeans. Somewhere I saw this online, but I couldn't find it again. Doesn't matter, I probably wouldn't have followed the directions anyway. :) Christine loved that she got to pick the heart shaped stitching for the hem and the zig-zag is decorative.

This was a pair of Vince's painter pants. I loved that I could keep the side pocket. The opposite leg had a hole split totally across the knee it was close, but I got it to work. The ruffle I had sitting done already, it was for a flower girl dress I didn't make because we found one instead - and it was the perfect size! Vince isn't real sure what he thinks of his jeans' 2nd life. (I think he's secretly pleased :)...shhhhh!) He's informed me I won't disgrace his Carharts....we'll see. :) The other skirt was my favorite, until I made this one.

There have been many changes for our little family of 3 this fall. I worked all but 2 days of the fair - wow! That was a really fun experience and I got to work with a wonderful team of people. Mom kept my kids, thanks Mom!! They were long days, but we all are able to now really appreciate I don't have to work 10-12 hour days all the time for us just to live.

We are entering 6 weeks of school times 2. We are home schooling and enjoying life. In August I became a full-time student too, my classes are all online so I'm home with the kids and we do school together. I've also just started working a part-time job. It is a job the kids can come with me and so far they are enjoying working along side me. This is a new venture for us - for me to work outside our home, long-term, not just for a couple weeks. We are also working around 2 youth group schedules. My kids are Seniors this year and Vince is Middle School! Yes, I'm tired, but content and know these are all things that were waiting for the right timing. For whatever reason the right timing is now - all at once! The kids are old enough for this to work and we are happy. God is in control and He puts His plan in front of us. It is up to us what we choose to do with that direction.

I've reached loopy :)!

The last few weeks weren't able to be documented by photograph. Big, good things - but internal & emotional. I have discovered a recipe for loopy though. :)

Serves 1:
Be blessed with amazing friends - the ones God gives you.
Excess of emotion - good or bad, what ever quantity is leaking out
Not enough sleep - only if you want to be extra loopy :)
Pain mixed with joy - NOT in equal amounts, God determines how much of each
Enough of God's grace to cover everything
Mix with prayer & choose to focus on the glory of Christ.
Share with a friend or 2 who have mixed up their own batch. (otherwise this will fail)

Hickory - he really is a good puppy.

My very first rose bud! It smelled so wonderful!

Mom's flowers on her deck - they're just pretty.

Raindrops - so amazingly pretty.
God makes this intentionally,
He does care about every little detail in our lives.

It started to rain, not just a little bit, but DUMPING rain!

CJ's Birthday

Can you tell we might be a little partied out around here?
This is the birthday girl & she looks like I'm making her celebrate! :)

This is better - her table decorations & a pretty smile.

A glittery card from a glittery Bumma to a glittery girl.

Can you say 'Fancy Nancy'? This is a saying in our family, those of us who aren't 'fancy' say it frequently. As far as mom & CJ are concerned there are many things that can't be too fancy. We don't even like tinkerbell - but look at her grin because 'it's glittery'!

I think the gift Christine will remember for all of her life....Bumpa gave her her own fishing pole, a good pole. But wait - it's HOT PINK?! and there's more - it LIGHTS UP when you reel it!!!!!!!!!! Vince considers this a disgrace to fishing, but CJ could not have been happier. (Can you say, seriously 'fancy nancy'?!) :)

For Christine's birthday last year dad gave her a 'fairytale cottage' cake mold... He apologized to me last year because he knew it would involve me. Yes, I made it last year. The non-frosted gingerbread house version shown on the picture. I cleaned it well & tucked it away - hoping, hoping, hoping she'd forget about it or for sure at least not want the same cake 2 years in row. Not so, last week she asked where the mold was & said she wanted a pink and purple cake. My only thought was "Yuck - the house again and it had to be pink & purple?" I put it off & avoided making it until today, hoping she'd change her mind at the last minute. Nothing doing, so here is the 'Shabby Chic' ugly-not-so-fairy-tale'ish cottage, and it's pink with purple trim (the green things are 4 large trees on each corner of the house). By the time I got done with frosting this thing my thoughts were running along the lines of "What a horrible, mean person to think up this idea of 3D molds? Why didn't they have any thought or consideration for the poor mothers who'd get stuck frosting these things! ... or, Ugghhhh, the Bumpa's that fall for the gimick and buy these horribly-cute-in-the-picture-only things?!..."

(yes, you are seeing 3 different outfits. yes, all these pictures are today. these are just the ones when I took pictures, there were a couple others-besides the 3 sets of jammies in all worn today. it was her day, so I said nothing -- to her...)

I can not believe my baby is 9! It is weird to think I have 2 school age children, (not just school age but 1/2 way thru elementary school!) they are no longer preschoolers. Yes, I know they haven't been preschoolers for a long time, but my mind still has them there. I want to keep them there. I wanted them to grow up with a daddy, not with just me as their parent. I have had a lot of thoughts about my kids not growing up with a dad in their early formative years and what repercussions the 3 of us will have the opportunity to live through as a result. I can't control the outcome & I have to work at not letting these thoughts overwhelm me. I'm not to live with a spirit of fear, but I also want to go forward with my eyes open, with some idea of what to do. I like a specific list of what to do. There is a verse I read a couple weeks ago & it has stuck with me.

Ps 138:8 "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands." This has been very confirming & comforting to me - He will fulfill his purpose for me. It goes well with a passage I've been hanging onto for 9 years now. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you." (Jer 29:11-14)

• He will fulfill His purpose for me. (Each of us.)
• He has a plan for me. (He has a plan & He will fulfill.)
  
• A plan to give me hope and a future. (Is there any better hope than knowing our future includes spending eternity with Him?)
• Then I will call upon Him, pray to Him and he will listen to me. (He listens & hears me!)
  
• I will seek Him with all my heart and He promises I will find Him. (He promises I'll find Him when I seek Him)

WOW! The God of all creation, the ruler of the universe, my Heavenly Father, my Saviour has promised He has a plan for me & He will fulfill His purpose with me. My part, seek Him first.

This is huge - I don't need to 'do something' to make certain things in my life happen. I seek Christ first and all else will fall into place. This doesn't mean I don't act responsibly or do my best- but it isn't up to me! Thank you, Heavenly Father for this provision. A provision I've taken for granted, not fully understood, still don't fully understand. You have a plan & You will fulfill your purpose. Use me. I want my actions & words to glorify You & You alone. Thank you for being the father to the fatherless. Thank you I do have my dad & brothers in my kids' lives. Thank you they are men who desire to live for You. Help me to teach the children You have entrusted to me to walk in Your paths, to seek You first, to rest in You.

Our family addition

The area where the kennel is going was prepared several days ago. This is looking out my living room window. Dad & Vince actually got the kennel on Tues. and dad had the stuff for the dog run.

Yesterday morning at 9:10 the dump truck came with a load of gravel. The guys went to get the back hoe & it was time to work (play?).

Here is the kennel all set up & ready for Hickory to come...quite the plush set up :).

Today did not go as planned - and Vince handled it very well. We were here this morning & then we needed to take dad into Anchorage to pick up a van (it has front end damage) that he got for parts for my van....All this went fine & there was 50/50 chance he could start the van and drive home. The animal hospital had my cell # and was to call me when it was time to pick up Hickory, we knew we had until 5:30/6 to pick him up. We got to the junk yard & got the van - the guy started it & drove it out to dad, no problems! It was just 3:15, we were doing really well on time & very happy about this. I was supposed to stay right behind dad - easier said than done, but I was managing. We got on the highway & weren't even to the Muldoon exit when I noticed dad was smoking from the left side, but the exhaust was on the right...so I called dad & told him. The heat gauge was fine & he couldn't smell anything so he decided to keep going -- he ended up taking the Arctic Valley exit & pulled over. We hoped we could make it to Eagle River to get some water. .... not so .... Dad took off down a frontage road (? I don't know we were parallel to the Hwy, but couldn't see it) & was following but there was a large work truck between us. A couple miles down the road I saw dad pulled over again.

The only usable fluids I had were a gal of windshield washer fluid & the kids' water bottles. As fast as he poured those in they poured out on ground on the opposite side of the engine. Dad called Zach & he was able to drop what he was doing and bring the truck & trailer in to pick up the van -- Zach to the rescue.

side note: Here is Christine on the side of the road waiting. Can you believe what I let her leave the house in today? Yes, that is jeans with a skort on top of them, and a long sleeve hoodie with a t-shirt on top. I think her thinking was if it got hot she'd be prepared...but they were in the wrong order... :)

As time ticked away it became obvious I was going to be taking Vince by myself to pick up Hickory....we were all nervous & it was a very quiet ride from the Ft. Rich exit to Palmer. But we did it, I didn't get sick when she was telling us stuff, we got him in the van and drove home all by ourselves. For those who don't know me - this is huge! We got home, Dad & Zach were here and Jane & the kids were here - so Hickory still got a grand welcome. :)

The kids checking out Hickory in his kennel. Vince is in the kennel with Hickory while he checked out all the corners.

Vince now has his own dog.
A white, 1 yr old, male, Golden Retriever that he got to name Hickory.

God is in the details. All of them.

Life has been very busy...

It's already been 6 weeks since I last updated. I feel as though it was 'just yesterday' and at the same time there has been so much life crammed into the last 6 weeks I think "really, it's only been 6 weeks?" In the last 6 weeks, we've had VBS, one slow'ish week, then attended 2 bridal showers, 3 weddings, I worked full-time for 2.5 wks, went to Victory for 4.5 days for our youth group trip, and had 16 family members & 2 friends using our home as 'home base' while here visiting in the state, we also had the rehearsal dinner here (44 people) for my cousin's wedding.

So this update is an attempt at a 'shortened' pictorial version of this anti-socialite's life :) - God stretched me to the point I feel like a rubber band that has stayed stretched out, no more 'bouncing back' to my original shape. So, if you plan to read all the way through, get comfy - consider this is your warning as this post is loooooong. It is once again day by day for my sake when I'm trying to journal pictures later...or just when I try to remember why I am so very tired.

Memorial Day -
Christine & I went to join the Brown's & Mueller's at Carter Park
for a fun evening of play & visiting.

Painting - dad & Vince were in Halibut Cove...mom, Christine & I painted the entry way, living room, hall, bathroom, 1 kitchen wall & all ceilings, including the kitchen in preparation of all the family coming. The bathroom wall (left side) is a fun color, depending on the lighting it is either grey'ish, green'ish or brown'ish. This is also the color in the hallway & up the stairs.

Plants on the deck are coming along. We planted a garden again this year, but we also wanted to keep some cabbage & lettuce (last year the moose got them). I told Vince he could make a container garden on our deck as long as he came up with an interesting container. He came up with the idea of tires - I love it! It seems the plants do too, we've decided the tires heat up & helps the plants grow well.

June 10th & 15th I went for training for filling in full time.
June 13th - 2pm was a bridal shower in Anchorage & at 7pm a wedding in Wasilla.
June 16th-July 2nd I worked full time. A very different life for the kids & I. My mom watched the kids for me. Mom, dad & the kids actually went to the Cove June 20-26th.
June 20th-26th I was home 100% alone & working all day. I haven't lived that lifestyle since 1995! Life was VERY strange. They left Sat after the annual meeting at church - the rest of Sat & all day Sunday was the strangest. It was good for me. It was just long enough that I got past the weirdness of it & was happy when they came home. :) Mom & the kids came home on the 26th.
June 27th was another friends wedding.
June 28th -mom, the kids & I went to Anchorage to go shopping for me to get things for going to camp & looking for clothes for Jeremy & Kate's wedding.
June 29th - after work we went into Anchorage again for more shopping....ugghhhh, I really dislike shopping! We got home at 11:30pm!!!!
June 30th - after work I went to Anchorage to pick up Nate & Christina and their 5 kiddos. We went to eat with Jeremy & Kate in Anchorage. We got home 9:30pm & then visited for a couple hours. Oh yeah & I had to get a Creative Memory order in...
July 1st - Nate & Christina headed to the Cove. I went to work, then to a meeting for camp, then shopping to get the craft supplies for camp - home about 10:30pm.
July 2nd - went to work for half a day, went home & fell asleep sitting straight up on the swing on the deck for over an hour! Then 7'ish we headed to Anchorage again to take the truck to Jeremy's apt for Uncle Dave & Aunt Sharon the next day. Home about 11pm.
July 3rd - needed to be at church by 12:30...at 12:15 in the Wal-mart parking lot, while sitting in my mom's car, someone hit the car. No dents, just scratches - but still caused an adrenaline rush!
July 4th was so different this year. This year I was at camp with other leaders & 46 students. Last year was the parade in a campaign year. Mom & my kids were home, they went to the parade & the Hughes' picnic. Jon & Kathy got in & all headed to Homer, there were 24 people at the Cove!

Our view when walking down the hill to eat or for meetings at Spruce Lodge.

pretty flowers along the way - of course. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to dust, cottonwood, and fireweed & Victory had an exceeding abundance of all 3! By day three I was pretty miserable, but camp meetings were so very good. It was such a blessing to see so many kids hear & take to heart what was being said, especially when so many made the decision to make their faith their own! Wow-it really was amazing!

Over looking the Matanuska River, just past the Victory turn off.

July 6th - late night all but dad made it to mom & dad's in Wasilla. Nate & Christina went to stay in the 5th wheel up at Zach & Jane's, the rest were here at our house. Dad stayed to clean up & then flew into Anchorage Tues afternoon. I left Victory Bible Camp at 12:30am to drive home to be there for first thing on Wed.
July 7th- I climbed into bed at 2:10am and was up just a few short hours later. After spending hours working on getting the internet to work...We four mom's took the 13 kids to Matanuska River Park - it was so hot! We ended up going back to mom & dad's to give them popsicles & let them play in the water. Josiah came in at midnight that night.
July 8th -

FAMILY

Dad & Aunt Sharon

My girl cousins & I.
Gabby (left) is the youngest grandchild & only other girl on my dad's side. Christina (pink) is married to Nate & has 5 sweeties. Kathy (right) is married to Jon & has 3 sweeties.

The 13 grandchildren of Dad & Aunt Sharon.
We don't take it lightly and know we are so amazingly blessed to all love each other & get along so well. It is a heritage my grandparents started & prayed over. We just spent close to 2 weeks totally immeshed, all 13 kids most everyday all day. Yet, it still hurt to have them leave. Even though we went to bed way too late every night (even kids up too late every night) and the days were full days. Again I say, I'm so thankful the goodbye hurts because it means we care. If we didn't care, it wouldn't hurt.

July 9th (day) -

Uncle Dave (Aunt Sharon's husband) filled Vince's love tank to overflowing. Uncle Dave loves to be in the kitchen cooking & so does Vince. He actually chose to stay home when we all went to hike Hatcher's Pass so he could cook with Uncle Dave for the rehersal dinner.

A small portion of our crew starting the hike.
It took 5 vehicles to get us all up to Indepence Mine! Of course I have many pictures of flowers. They were different than the ones going up to Summit Lake. :)

Christine & I had to head down the mountain earlier than everyone else. The allergies were getting to be too much & I had to get to Anchorage to get paper for the wedding programs and back home for the rehersal dinner at 6pm.

July 9th (evening) - the rehersal dinner was at our house. How strange to have people from both of my hometowns at our house here. It was 'mentally trippy' :).

If I counted right we had 44 people here that evening.

At 12:30 Friday morning the 3 oldest girls had a sleepover in my bed.

July 10th -

The beautiful bride working on the bridesmaids' bouquets.

Buckets of flowers!

By 1:30pm the centerpieces, bouquets, boutiners & food were as ready as they could be. So we went separate directions until 4, when we were to meet for manicure/pedicures. I went to Jo-Ann's & Michael's with mom & Aunt Sharon. We needed ribbon for the programs & something for the flower girls to carry.

I got my first pedicure. I figured it would be a fun memory for a first. I even got a design, one of the other girls got it & I liked it - so I copied her.

July 11th - mom & dad's 39th wedding anniversary and the wedding day we've all been waiting for. I was at the UPS store by 9 to get the programs copied, then to get Vince's hair cut & to Fred Meyer for me to try last ditch effort to find shoes & I did! We were home by 10:30'ish to get ready & leave for Anchorage by 12'ish. I was able to catch Aunt Sharon before she left & she took the programs to fold while Gabby was getting her hair done & I wore a sweater so I didn't fix my dress. We were at Chapel by the Sea getting all last minute stuff done by 1:20pm.

The way adorable flower girls - all 8 of them!
On the right are the 3 oldest girls - within a year or so. The younger ones rotate by family with some a couple months apart & a few being only a week apart.

The table in the backyard during the rehersal dinner was Jeremy's table. Kate came back to the house to get something she forgot & saw them burning it after the dinner (it broke when trying to move it), she was sad & mentioned she'd really liked the legs. Vince snagged a leg & made it into a hanging rack - sanding it down & putting hooks on it. He gave it to her at the reception - she recognized it immediately & loved it. He was so pleased!

Mom & Dad with the little car. Dad & Vince brought the little car into Anchorage. Dad chauffered Jeremy & Kate away from the wedding in it.

July 12th - church, gathered for lunch & then all gathered up at Zach & Janes for a hot dog roast - but first Christine & I went to church for the camp wrap up (a crowd of 80+!). Fourteen of our family friends also joined us. Jon & Kathy left late that night.
July 13th - Nate & Christina left late-afternoon (flew out at 5:30pm). Unfortunately Christina got sick & ended up in bed 'til the moment of leaving. I took them into Anchorage, made a couple stops to return stuff not used for the wedding & then home for a movie with mom, kids & Gabby. Uncle Dave & Aunt Sharon went to a friends for dinner with Josiah, who left late evening.
July 14th - Uncle Dave, Aunt Sharon & Gabby had to be packed & ready to go. We drove up to Sheep Mtn for a bbq with Matt & Samantha, Nick & Beth (WI friends) also joined us.

While at Sheep Mtn, Matt took Gabby & CJ to fly over Matanuska Glacier. They came back, landed & ate, then we left. We were there just over an hour. Then headed back to drop off bbq stuff & pick up the fish and luggage to take them to Anchorage to fly out at 9pm.

This brings us to today, July 15th...It was the first morning I didn't have to be up by 6:30/7am & out of the house by 8/9am...I slept until 10:20 & Christine until 11! Mom left to go for a campout with friends down in Ninilchik and Vince went to Coke's for R's birthday - so it's just CJ & I. How weird is that?! Today, I got to actually stop & look at my flowers on my deck & how they're doing. Guess what - remember my hibiscus I couldn't get to hang onto its buds & bloom? I put it on the deck a month or more ago, I thought it was dead, I just didn't get around to getting it to the garbage & I've basically ignored it. Yesterday (or the day before) I noticed a bud & today it had bloomed! It had all turned yellow & looked very dead. I'm glad I never got around to pitching it. Also, my pots that looked so pathetic have filled out nicely. For some reason though, my Viola's that should only get to 6" are all 12-18" high....who knows. I'm just thankful they are all still alive & I can slow down, breathe & enjoy them now.

I must say I've learned so much in the last year & the last 6-7 wks cemented it. I feel as though this picture from last week up at Hatcher's Pass very aptly describes my life right now. Beautiful, with bends & curves I can't see around - but it is still good. All essentials there, just not straight, practical, functional - the way I tend to think is best. My trust is growing thru all this. For an anti-socialite who is used to requiring a couple days to recover from one crowd to see how God does give strength to make it thru multiple crowds in a week or crowds day in & day out for weeks on end... I'm tired but content. God has provided above & beyond, exceedingly & abundantly above all I could ask or think. I've been too tired to ask, but He knew what I needed even when I didn't get it requested.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for knowing me - who I am in Christ.
Knowing what I need, when I need it & how much.