LEAVES!

We have little tiny leaves peaking out!  Okay, not actually at my house {but I can see buds coming at home!} -- this was actually at church, just 20 min. away.

However, I will say I am in absolute denial of the snowflakes falling on my head (very tiny, but still it was snow!) moments before taking this picture and today there was slush falling out of the sky.  But since both of those moments were extremely short, and after May 1st. we. are. NOT. acknowledging them!

New leaves.  New purpose.  New thought processes.  New plans.  New perspective.  

It's spring!

Time for new schedules.  Time for new life.  Time for new focuses.

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Cherry blossoms!

God gave me a gift on Monday!!!  I went into the grocery store on the way home from picking mom up at the airport - I was getting her flowers for her welcome home. ... They had cherry blossoms - let me clarify, they had branches cut off from cherry blossom trees!  I saw cherry blossoms in real life - for the very first time in my life!  I couldn't believe it...I didn't even have to think twice - I bought them for myself.  You see, I have always wanted to see cherry blossoms in real life.  In my recollection these were the first real cherry blossoms I have ever seen. 

Yes, I paid $7.99 for three branches of an outdoor tree.  

Yes, you can call me a crazy Alaskan.  

BUT, guess what - I don't care :-D!!!!

I'm still holding out for my dream ... Someday, Lord willing, I will get to see Washington DC in April {& again in fall, whenever that is, and in winter too}.  April is my birthday month, maybe someday I will see real cherry trees and cherry tree blossoms for my birthday :-D.

Keep reading for a more explanatory version :-D!
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Think Green!

Okay - in reality it's green somewhere else.  Lots of somewhere else's, actually-but not here.  We are at 45* for the second day in a row, but we still have tons of snow needing to melt; the snow is pretty rotten and not worth much except to remind us we don't have green or outdoor growth yet.  This tree is actually in Washington DC, and what it looked like the beginning of last October.

I used the above picture though because it kind of represents life -- the single tree is like each of us, all the branches are representative of all the things we are involved in and the leaves are the activities or to-do list of all that has to be done for each part of our life.  For example:

This is just a quick idea, not well executed but "good enough".  It portrays the immediate visual in my head.  Even though I am a single person, I am grounded in Christ.  {I'm not in any way representing my life in Christ in this picture -- He is the core of my life.}  I'm reflecting the branches as the many hats we so often hear about.  I read an article this morning - on the Home Educating Family Blog.  It was written by Heidi St. John, "That Girl"... what really struck me was a conversation between her husband & herself where he stated he missed her and wondered if she was "in there somewhere"?  

I don't have a husband to ask questions, but I question myself.  This is actually something I've been struggling with lately.  "Why do I keep questioning everything I'm doing, getting lots done, and still feeling frustrated?"  I have to wonder if it is because I'm looking for "That Girl" {who I was before [what/when]?}  I've only been discovering who "that Girl" might be in the last several years - after being a wife and becoming an ex. wife; mom to full-time-sole-parent-single mom; homeschool mom; full-time student to not; stay-at-home with lots of time mom to stay-at-home-work-from-home-starting-a business-from-home mom.  Needless to say - I'm still figuring it out.  BUT, what I realized while reading the article -- I have a responsibility to nurture the woman God made me to be, to nurture the creating, house project, solitude is good side of me.  Not just the practical, make it all fit, get it done side.  I have almost page long to-do lists for each aspect of life -- while I do see progress, too often as soon as progress is made on one, there are 10 more things to add to the list.  I have an interesting next couple days - the end of March brings many deadlines, since March 31st is a Saturday - that actually means tomorrow is the deadline.  Then, after the deadline I have 6.5 hours on Saturday that will be just me.  So weird.  I do believe I will come home and sew.  I've had lots of time to figure this out, but I feel selfish for wanting to just immerse myself in sewing projects.all.by.myself(!) and do so many things I always want to do but never make the time to get around to.

So, on that note - I'm off to learn InDesign because Saturday I get to sew! :-D (now that I've written it down, it really makes me happy to look forward to -- absolutely no "have to do" items in my thoughts for Saturday)

Blessed Rest-full day to you.

needing to see some green :-D...

I hope you have had a wonderfully blessed weekend 

and rest-full day today.  

If you are facing difficulty and challenges, 

and they are threatening to overwhelm you - 

I hope you will turn to the Heavenly Father.  

You just have to ask.

He is always with you and He cares.  

Sometimes it is hard to change the path we are on,

but He promises to be there for us when we call on Him.  

Always and Forever.

"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me." 

John 14:1

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Hebrews 13:8

Sun!

Today I skipped out on all the need/want/have-to-do's on all my lists.  I went to visit with dear friends and meet a new baby.  It was WONDERFUL!  To top it off, the sun was bright and warm.  I of course had my "real coat" with me, but I only wore a long sleeve shirt with a down vest.  I felt so light.  I was seriously relishing how warm it was and how maybe spring would come sooner {as long as I don't look at the __ feet of snow on the ground, in piles EVERYwhere}; after all it was so warm {I would have guessed high-30s/mid-40s}.  Then I saw a thermometer.  At that point I questioned my sanity.  It was 19*.  Yes, that is above zero and not a negative number - but seriously?!  19* is still a LONG ways from melting.

I needed a break from the computer and when I'm home I don't see the sun in my apartment.  So, since I was out, my children were with my mom, and the sun was shining - I drove.  I didn't do my normal start at point A, and do errands in a line and end without back-tracking.  I kind of lost the ability to care, the sun was in my eyes and it was "warm".  In the end, I checked in with mom - all was fine at home, but she & a friend were getting to sew.  I was almost tempted to go home and sew.  In the end, I got a coffee, went to the highest parking lot in town, and parked.  I sat in my car, looking at this view, with warm sun in my face and my eyeballs were very happy.  I had planned to read some stuff I needed to get through, but instead got to catch up with a friend from out of state.  {the wonders of cell phones :-)....}

We are blessed to live in Alaska.  In spring I do wonder why I choose to be here - but look at that view!  I could have turned in pretty much any direction and the view was the same - fresh, crisp, white snow on mountains, glistening to the point of hurting your eyes.  Alaska is home, even though I have heart ties in Wisconsin where I spent several childhood years (so I have a strong all things farm pull),  I have lived most of my life here.  While I'd love to see/shop at some of the wonderful places I see posted about {antiques, fabric, home decor, etc.}; I'd really miss Alaska.  I do really wish we had spring though.  :-D

Just so you know - I'm not totally a pessimist....
  -- Snow storm on April 26, 2008 ... Alaska in April
  -- Snow in April, 2009 ... April Fool's or not?
  -- Not trusting warm in mid-March, 2010 ... SPRING! (maybe, but probably not)
Uh, huh...I'm just finally learning.  Enjoy it in the moment, but don't depend on it staying :-D.  Yes, I am thick skulled and slow to get this -- but this is the last three years' records....so, I still wish we had spring and think in the future I just need to plan to go see spring elsewhere.  I can see the flowers, smell the flower, and feel the warm sun; then come back and be content to wait until Memorial Day weekend to do my planting :-D.

It's the little things...

Today my kids and I were needing to kill a bit of time, so we headed to Value Village (our version of GoodWill).  I love thrift store shopping when prices are cheap, too often for the price I find something at Value Village I can buy it brand new on clearance. That annoys me!

Anyway, so we'd done the rounds looking for legos, skis, "butterfly" shirts (shirts with big floppy sleeves-I remember them as angel sleeves), and jeans, so we were walking the perimeter of the store to the checkout.  We, of course, detoured past the craft stuff (I left it all there) and into housewares - I was just glancing over the dishes to see if anything jumped out at me.  Let me take you on a short bunny trail: my mom has a thing for purses, mine is for tote bags; my mom has a thing for bowls (all sizes, and no more than 2 the same-drives me nuts!), yet mine is for plates.  Not big plates, but saucer size and salad plate size (they stack, no matter the size).  We don't use dinner plates, except for serving.  Back to Value Village in the housewares... I see these plates, a batch of two with a rubber band.  They're saucer size, don't have a cup indent, and have beautiful flowers on them.  I LOVE flowers, real flowers, pretty much all of them; but when it comes to photos/items pained floral I'm picky.

Okay, I'm taking you on another bunny trail:  My dad's mom loved flowers as much as I do.    This love of flowers has been ingrained in me since before remembering meeting my grandma (at age 7).  It is a tangible connection I have even now with my grandma.  I loved my grandma dearly, she passed away eight years ago now.  I know she is in Heaven with a new, well, healed body, but I'm selfish and I still miss her.  When I see certain batches of flowers, or a certain kind of painting, or type of tea cup/mug, maybe the way the sun shines through a window onto a batch of flowers - those memories of being a child from 7-14 years of age coming rushing over me, it is as if it were yesterday.  Those are the years our family lived in northern Wisonsin, living near my grandparents.  It is the way I remember her, so many, many years ago (20+ years).  I greatly loved my grandma and I still miss her.  

I picked them up to discover they were sitting on another batch of two with a rubber band, salad plate size - really, my two favorite sizes?  My breathe caught, they were so pretty!  And, there were two of each - one for Christine & I; or for a treat with a friend & I (just need to find teacup/mug)...depending on what the situation is at the moment.  All four plates looked unused, no scratch marks, and still very evenly shiny. (By the way, I left the two dinner plates that matched there :-D) 

I decided I really wanted them, but I wouldn't pay more than $5-7 per set - and if they were $5, then I was only going to get one size.  In other words I wasn't going to pay more than $5 for plates I didn't need, I just really wanted them :-D.   All the other plates I thought were interesting were $5.99/$6.99 for a single plate, I took a deep breath before checking the price, and guess what?!  The two little ones, $.99; the two bigger ones, $1.29 --- that made $2.28 for all four!  That is my kind of deal!!  I was so stoked, it wasn't even a debate in my mind.  (not even taking the four and leaving the two bigger ones)  My kids saw my face and agreed, "just get them mom".  My mind was SCREAMING, "God, you are so funny!  Not only did you let me get ALL of them (when I don't need them) - You gave them all to me at less than half of what I was willing to pay for one!"

My kitchen walls are dark brown/red, and the other accent/decor is khaki/burlapy/vintage mini roses/tea cups/etc.  Not dainty, more rustic.  Our other plates are an avocadoy green, dark brown/red, and off white, our bowls are off white -- so it really does all go together.  Once summer comes I can take pictures in my kitchen, but until then they really don't turn out.

I know they are just stuff, but when I see them it is the "ache/catch/thought" that causes me to take a long, slow, deep breath and just say "Thank You, Heavenly Father.  Thank You for giving me a grandma who made You her focus, taught me, and loved me so dearly.*  Thank You for all of your provisions".  A lot of my reaction is due to the painting on these plates, they remind me of my grandma.  He IS in the little things!  I know plates are so insignificant in the grand scheme of life, yet He knew it would make me so happy.  Their coloring totally goes in my kitchen with my other colors and pottery.

{fast forward several hours} - I've taken my kids to see The Lorax, we've gone to get groceries, and now we're home making pizza for our Friday night pizza night.  This whole time, I feel just a bit giddy, like a dork who can't quit thinking of the good deal God gave me today.  So, I'm washing dishes and while washing the new plates, I turn it over to wash the bottom side - guess what, they're Cheri Blum!  It shocked me -  Cheri Blum is the only artist who I've ever consistently seen a picture/painting and it catches my breath; I even had checks of hers once, it was the only time I ever paid full price to re-order the same checks.  I had no idea!







*I don't in any way mean my parents didn't, but grandma understood me.  I got my creativeness from her, she & I were very similar in many ways - physically and mentally.

Spring Organization.

Another party is coming & you are invited!

When:  starting March 26^th

Where: starting at Organizing Made Fun

Why: to celebrate spring and organization

This is one you need time to prepare for so you can be prepared to participate, or just take really good notes :-D.  There are nine Organizing bloggers who are going to parade their organized homes:

Becky from Organizing Made Fun

Jen from Iheart Organizing

Anna from Ask Anna

DaNita from Delightful Order

Lesley from Goodbye House, Hello Home

Becky from Clean Mama

Toni from A Bowl Full of Lemons
Leanne from Organize and Decorate Everything

Laura from I’m an Organizing Junkie

Some of these blogs I have been reading for awhile and some are new to me.  I'm so happy to have the next three weeks to get to know these ladies.  
The parade starts on Monday, March 26^th, at Organizing Made Fun.  On day #5, there will be an opportunity to link up your organized space.

I LOVE things organized and put away in their right place.  I can’t wait to see all the new ideas for my home.  Go to A Bowl Full of Lemons or Organizing Made Fun to get your button for sharing the invitation. 

Flower trees in Alaska?

I love, love, love flowers and flowering trees. I got this ingrained love for flowers from my Grandma Keller and my mom taught me to always appreciate fresh flowers in doors as well. All I am trying to say is I come by this craving very naturally :-). This fall/winter/spring have been insanely crazy, way too busy, way too many things happening and I have been aching {desperate} for flowers more than usual.

While driving from Juneau a week and a half ago I kept seeing white bushy trees as I drove. Do you see the lowest row? I wondered as I drove what they were - even though I love to look at trees, I don't know their identities....to me they go into just 2 categories - pretty or not so much...

Some had a red-ish tint....

I decided it must be the pussy willows and wondered if I'd see them when I got home.

[side note: This photo is just 'cuz it is so pretty.]

See my side mirror?...that's dad towing a boat behind me.

This was my view for a lot of hours - two days of driving 7-8 hours, in a truck all by myself, with no radio, no talking, no questions, no phone, no computer, no people interaction = a very happy April :-). Little did I know how much I would need this [re]charge for the week to come as opposed to recouping from the weeks past. As always, God's timing is perfect!

Back to what I was originally going to say when I started this post (a couple hours of homework and multiple loads of laundry ago...) When you're a bit (or a lot) delusional and a lot desperate for Spring these look like flowering trees when you drive by them. It is something sprouting, but it doesn't look like the buds we usually see. I think it is the pussy willows - I need to stop and take a close up photo, but for now this is the best I have. Out my living room window I see our usual leaf buds. May 1: I think our spring is here to stay - we had a day this week that hit 70*, yes we had snow/hail/rain yesterday and it's been chillier the last couple days; but that was in April - it's May now :-).

SPRING! (maybe, but probably not)

Winter...Breakup...Spring...LOTs of snow, back to Winter...

and Spring again.

You gotta love the extremes of spring in Alaska. We get to change our mind frequently. Even though we had one breakup I knew winter wasn't over yet - it was way too early. Back up just over a week ago, this is what was happening out the window.

Big brother teaching little sister to cross country ski - while it "dumped" snow. She wanted to learn so much & he finally obliged - on his own terms, his idea. It has been a nearly every day occurrence ever since.

Totally made this mom's heart proud!

She was giddy excited!

Days of sickness and snow. Then the amaryllis opened it was so pretty! Last week it seemed warm and I really wanted pictures of the red with all the white. So I took the amaryllis outside. (p.s. If you want to continue enjoying the amaryllis inside - I would not recommend doing this. The amaryllis did not recover...sorry, mom)

Today

We are in the midst of Springish' type temps again. The declaration of today - "I went out, the sun hit me and IT WAS WARM!" and the kids are soaking up as many rays as they can (when you're still pretty much covered head to toe). It is just above 40* today.

Notice one is bare toed & the other has boots on. I believe she's making a snowman. The CD player is sitting where the amaryllis was last week. Not sure why the CD player is sitting on a folded blanket, to keep it warm?

Leaves, Flowers, & Sun...

Our leaves are all open & wonderful -- even though they make breathing difficult, it's worth it. :) The sun has been out & warm, we had some rain & it warmed back up again! I have to admit when it started to rain I was holding my breath & hoping, hoping, hoping the springy/summery weather would come back & it did. :)

I was able to get some flowers for my deck & start making my 'corner of the world' to enjoy sitting outside. I'm so happy. It is always amazing to me how therapeutic it is to dig & play in the dirt. I know you can't see the sun hitting this corner - but it is where the sun hits first each day. It's getting earlier, about 1:30-2 that the corner my chair is in has sun. I just took these pictures & it's 10pm - so the sun is hitting the tree tops all around, but not on my deck anymore.

The flowers look so wimpy in their pots right now, but I look forward to them filling out, the colors really being visible & not seeing the dirt.

Last year a friend gave me one of these hanging bags with blue lobelia in it. It was beautiful, thick & bushy. When she gave it to me you couldn't see the bag it was hanging in. This is just to the left of my door, we all got very used to walking out & around (we'd walk out & step to the left to go right) to go down the ramp. So, true to 'old habits die hard' this year since putting my screen door on (our signal that summer is here) we are all walking out & around and moving our head funny to the left when we walked out to get around the bushy plant that isn't there! So, I decided to put Gypsophilia in it. I love Gypsophilia. I discovered it a few years back & haven't been able to find any since. It has the sweetest, tiniest little flowers - I would have chosen white but they only had light purple. I decided purple is good. :) It sure looks funny right now, I hope I didn't hurt it too much trying to get the plants through the little holes.....soon (I hope) our step out to the left to go right &/or the funny 'jerk your head to the left' move will be for a reason again :).

I'm so thankful our Heavenly Father created things of beauty - big, enormous mountains & teeny tiny flowers - for us to enjoy. I love living in Alaska!

It's GREEN!!

You can see the green, it's coming!

The leaf buds were starting to be visible on Friday.

The leaf buds up close today. I took this picture & the first one with the green tinge this morning. As the day progresses, it is growing greener! I'm sure of it!

Have a wonderful, wonderful spring day :)!

Brothers

I have two brothers ~ I love both dearly. Both have stepped in and filled my boy's love tank in ways I never could (or would). Matt has made a point of including Bud the last couple days, yesterday was a trip to Anchorage to go to the junk yard to look at the next batch of auction cars, and today was playing on a glacier. I know my parents desired the three of us kids to have friendship & truly love each other. I'm sure they wondered as we grew up if this would ever be achieved. God has blessed all of us, my parents with a positive answer & the three of us with an adult friendship that is amazing and so full of trust.

Anyway... Matt called me this morning in true "Matt fashion", he called at 8 - the first words out of his mouth were "Did I wake you up?" Was he asking out of kindness or kind of hoping he had? :) I don't know & I'm not so sure there wasn't a note of disappointment that I answered with a 'no'. He was actually calling to see if Vince would want to go flying with him today. Of course I said yes he'd go - thinking in my head "what fun, it's an absolutely gorgeous day". Matt said, "OK, I'll be there in 10 min. He needs to be in full snow gear we're going to the glacier". I said "OK, I'll pack him some food too". Proof I'd been up for a while - there was conscious thought happening (those who know me knows it takes me significantly longer to get to this point than most people).

Now, Vince used to be awake most everyday by 6:30 or 7...that has changed... :) I figured he was awake and even if not, he'd wake up quick considering what he got to go do. Lets just say I have had the pleasure of waking him up on numerous occasions lately, this was one of those times. Well, Vince was dressed in snow gear, had his breakfast, lunch, book & camera in hand, and was in Matt's truck, maybe even getting close to Palmer - all before he ever really woke up! :) When he walked out the door his head was still drooping, I had not yet actually seen his eyes & I hadn't heard a whole word out of him yet, mostly just half words or sounds. They went & played on Knik Glacier, from the amazing pictures he took - he woke up & thoroughly enjoyed it all!

He even took this picture just before take off - just for me. When he was showing me his pictures & I said "oh, that is so cool" - his response was "yea, I know. I took it for you."
:)! He did wake up thankful to go flying & thinking kind thoughts towards me.

Flying to the glacier.

Landed on the glacier.

Matt digging the hole, on the glacier.

Vince in the hole to measure how much snow, on the glacier.

Vince peeking out of the hole, on the glacier.


Self portrait of a very happy boy, in a hole - on a glacier!

You can check Matt & his many adventures out on www.blueiceaviation.com. Yes, I am biased - but it is truly a wonderful experience to "go play on a glacier". Matt is a wonderful pilot & totally trust worthy!

God's Blessings

Easter. What an amazing act of love from our Heavenly Father to us.

Here is a story related in my Bible Study this morning. (quotes from Max Lucado's Bible Study, Experiencing the Heart of Jesus)

... since God is more moved by our hurt than our eloquence, he responded. That's what fathers do.

...

That's exactly what Jim Redmond did.
His son, Derek, a twenty-six-year-old Briton, was favored to win the four-hundred-meter race in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Halfway into his semifinal heat, a fiery pain seared through his right leg. He crumpled to the track with a torn hamstring.
As the medical attendants were approaching, Redmond fought to his feet. "It was animal instinct," he would later say. He set out hopping, pushing away the coaches in a crazed attempt to finish the race.
When he reached the stretch, a big man pushed through the crowd. He was wearing a t-shirt that read "Have you hugged your child today?" and a hat that challenged, "Just Do It." The man was Jim Redmond, Derek's father.
"You don't have to do this," he told his weeping son.
"Yes, I do," Derek declared.
"Well, then, " said Jim, "we're going to finish this together."
And they did. Jim wrapped Derek's arm around his shoulder and helped him hobble to the finish line. Fighting off security men, the son's head sometimes buried in the father's shoulder, they stayed in Derek's lane to the end.
The crowd clapped, then stood, then cheered, and then wept as the father and son finished the race.
What made the father do it? What made the father leave the stands to meet his son on the track? Was it the strength of his child? No, it was the pain of his child. His son was hurt and fighting to complete the race. So the father came to help him finish.
God does the same. Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.

This made me think of things I've heard before, but for whatever reason clicked more with reading it this morning, Easter morning. If we as human parents will do anything for our children, often without really thinking about it & definitely defending our actions - How much more our Heavenly Father does for us & will do for us. He sent His Son to die on the cross, you know He wanted to spare Jesus - but it was for us He didn't. His plan was to raise Jesus from the dead, also for us. If God were into the easier way of doing things He could have skipped Jesus' pain, suffering & dying, but because the wages of sin is death He didn't. Again, for us.

This weekend was very full of activities at the end of a full week and full of so many blessings. Two very special blessings I don't want to ever forget...

One very special blessing - I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to have Vince do while Christine & I were at the Mother/Daughter Tea on Saturday morning....but at the Good Friday Service on Fri night a very special friend's husband invited him to join him & his son to go out on the 4-wheeler & look for mud puddles! What more could any boy want?! Vince was so excited! When we got home Fri. night he got all his warm clothes & plastic bags with change of clothes for when they were done & getting back into the van ready for the next morning. On Sat when he was back with me & we'd hooked up with other friends he kept telling them about how much fun it was to go find the mud & puddles and go through them. I think everyone we saw or talked to (whether we knew them or not!) in Jo-Ann's knew he'd been out on a 4-wheeler. I don't think he'd ever been out to play on one before. I'm sure my dad & brothers will hear lots about how you can just play on the 4-wheeler, not just use it for work. Dad, this is your warning - :).

This was just funny to me....in the weekly clothes talk of making sure his jeans were clean for Sun morning, Vince informed me that for Easter he wanted to look "just like Uncle Zach". He was going to wear his jeans, tennis shoes, Carhart sweatshirt & Meekin's Air Service cap. It was funny 'cuz he'd actually thought about it & then told me ahead of time. This really isn't much different than what he's been living in lately, except the cap. Zach you are missed :)!

The other blessing was Christine's dress. I don't really put much effort in a new dress for Easter, if it works - great, if not - no big deal. I do like to have something fun and springy & Easter means it's OK to start wearing less wintry clothes. I had it in my head I really wanted her to have a polka dot dress or a white eyelet dress for going into summer (I know, summer is still a long ways away - but I'm desperate to see it coming). I saw Gymboree's polka dot dress & it made my desire stronger...but when it was on sale, they didn't have the right size. There wasn't polka dot material (that I liked) at Jo-Ann's for making one either. Then the white eyelet dress at Target went on sale. However, when Christine tried it on we didn't like it. It was one of those that was cute on the hangar but not so much on. None of this was specific "shopping for an Easter dress", just in life as we were out & about. So we decided she'd wear her beautiful "Nutcracker dress", it's cream/ivory so it'd be fine. My hesitation was I want it to stay nice for a wedding this summer.

Friends at the Tea...
what fun memories to be had in future years.

So, anyway...Saturday morning was the Mother/Daughter Easter Tea at church. On our way to the Tea a friend called. She had a pink/green polka dot dress her daughter had grown out of & she wondered if Christine would like it for Easter?...and she had it with her & we'd see her at the Tea. I about cried - not because I cared so much about the dress, but because God cares about such insignificant elements in my life. I'm all teary even thinking about it. I mean seriously - CJ had a dress, this wasn't a need in any shape or form. Not only was it a fun, springy dress, but it has big pink/green polka-dots & it is really cute on!

A dress wasn't even something I'd specifically prayed for. It just wasn't that important to me, I desired it but it wasn't a high priority. If God is willing to answer what I haven't asked for so perfectly, abundantly, above & beyond - how much more so does He want to answer/give what I do pray about and things/situations that are actually important?! The ending of the above quote: "Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference."really struck me. Lately I'd lost sight of this, thinking so many of my 'unanswered' (I know, this just means right now the answer is 'wait') prayers were a result of me not praying right or missing something. It's not about me. It is about Him. What glorifies & honors Him. His timing is perfect.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being patient with me as I learn & relearn & have to be reminded again - You want what is best for me, for us. Your power is greater than our every need, than my every fear. Your power has already conquered sin and death. Teach me to rest confidently in your strong hands. Help me to rely on your power, even when I do not understand why things are happening. Thank you for caring about insignificant things, the desires of our hearts, even when they could be labeled 'silly'. Meet me at the point of my greatest weakness with Your perfect power, in Your perfect love. Thank you for sending Jesus to die & rise again for my sins, for forgiving me, so I can spend eternity with You.

Guess Who?

Can you guess who this is?

and, who keeps loosing teeth?! She lost another one today.

yep -- wow does she have a lot of hair!
It took a 1/2 hour to dry it in small sections, then just over an hour to use the flat iron & straighten it. It looks amazing, I love her curls though! I told her I probably wouldn't do that again until she's 15 :)! However, if it lasts & makes life easier I might repeat it sooner. She was so excited to go to sleep with it down & loose and the idea she can go out with it down tomorrow...she's excited. I can brush through it and it is so soft & it's still so thick.

Alaska in April

Here is the sunrise over Wasilla Lake yesterday morning.

Sarah & I went into Anchorage for the IDEA curriculum fair yesterday (why I was anywhere near Wasilla Lake at 6 in the morning). It was beautiful & "warm" for spring in Alaska. We knew there was a forcast of sleet, but that didn't seem like a big deal, (besides, maybe they're joking - it's the end of April).... When we got to Anchorage it was starting to sprinkle a bit, by the time we parked & walked to the Egan Center it was slushing - when we left at noon it was snowing & collecting. We had planned all along to stay in Anchorage late - with the snowfall, we stayed really late.

This is just after 5pm, we'd been at the mall a couple hours. Of course, the snow scraper was taken out last week with the arrival of sunshine....but Sarah brought a 2nd pr of shoes, just in case & boy did we use them.

Yep - flip flops!
A new use for Alaskan girls in spring.

and people wonder why...

I'm so not "in tune" with the dents in the back of my van door. I would actually prefer to not have my door fixed, in fact I'm so happy to be driving my van! - any questions on why :)?

this is my dad's latest find/buy.......

Yes, that is a plywood for the hood & water bottles covering the blinkers, not sure what the grill is made of (I didn't ask)!

My Birthday

A couple days before my birthday the kids were getting excited. They couldn't understand when I said birthdays for adults isn't the same as it is for kids - in the sense of excitement for days ahead. Of course, at 10 & 7 that is just uncomprehendable (is that a word?).... I'd had a week of scrapbooking (I got 2001 done! woohoo!!!!) and it was time to clean the house (including mom & dad's), anyway... I told the kids the best birthday gift from them would be to buckle down & put their all into helping me clean --- they did it! The whole house was clean & restful all through Sunday & Monday, it truely was so wonderful.

On Sunday, after church the kids & I went to Carr's for lunch, they wanted to get me flowers. It was so very sweet, they put their money together & paid for them on their own. They did have me pick which ones I wanted. Oh, how they've grown, in the past I've been given permission to buy them for myself. This time I stood & watched them spend their earned money.

On top of the clean house, on Monday - Mary had Cathy come babysit my kids and she & I went into Anchorage, in the end with the time we had, we went to REI only. I don't think I've ever done that - drive to Anchorage, go to REI, and drive back out to Wasilla. When I got home, Cathy & the kids had made me a birthday cake. The cake & tulip's were really pretty together.