Still cold, but lots to keep us busy and warm!

Well, January is complete.  On to February!  More sun, less snow, and God-willing, warmer temperatures!!!

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE MANY PICTURES BELOW!

We’ll start off with the hours of sunlight and temperature updates.  We had a very rough couple of weeks a week ago.  Temperatures plummeted to 50-60 below in some places.  We even through boiling water into the air, and it just disappeared!  Yes, I know, should have taken video, but we forgot.  Next time.  The temperatures are slowly improving, though!  It is 14 ABOVE right now! It feels so warm out there.  I know that sounds crazy, but we could have been out there without our coats.  Anyways, it looks like temps for this week should be about 4-20 above.  We are going to take advantage of every opportunity we have to be out with our puppy!  Hours of sunlight, 7 hours and 22 minutes! So blessed!

We have been very busy during these dark and cold weeks.  That is why it has been so long since I have blogged.  Here’s what we’ve filled our time with:

-       Jason is staying busy visiting guests that have come to Syndoulos.

-       He also has started a “Back to Bible Basics” class.  We have 4 people who are using it as their BIC class, and quite a few members using it as a refresher on our catechisms.  We had about 15 people there last Monday.  Jason is also teaching a separate BIC class to 2 others.  : )

-       Northern GLOW, our women’s group, is going strong.  We had our Bible study over here at our home.  I got to put my used but new to me Keurig to good use.  It is so nice to get together with the women of Syndoulos.

-       I also had all the 20-30 year old women over that same week. We enjoyed food, conversation, and games. 

-       While I was doing all this, Pastor was enjoying being “outside” in Portland for Pastor’s conference.  He had a great time being uplifted and rejuvenated by seeing other Pastors and talking with them.  He was glad to be back home with his puppy, and his wife too. 

-       Work continues to go ok for me.  Even though the work I do is not my favorite, I am blessed to work with some great women. My coworker started a knitting group at school on Thursdays after work.  I LOVE it.  IT is very relaxing, and I am really trying some new things in knitting.  (See pics below!)

-       Finley continues to grow!  He is 55 pounds.  He had a tiring week with another golden that we were dog sitting.  Let’s just say we will never do that again.  Our little boy puppy is not fixed yet, and this caused many stressful moments.  It is so good to have just our big puppy!  She was a bit selfish and pushy.  Finley is enjoying having all his own toys back. 

-       YUKON QUEST!  It is officially on my list of Best Reasons to Live in Alaska!  We bundled up, (about 15 below), and stood outside on the river for about 2 hours.  We watched 23 mushers and their dogs take off for the 1,000 mile trek across extremely rough terrain, ending in Whitehorse, Canada.  It was such an experience!  Seeing what these men, and women! (7 of them) are about to do.  Their dogs are just beautiful, and so excited to get going.  The dogs were a lot smaller than I imagined.  Also, most of the huskies are not what you would think a husky would look like.  Most are Alaskan huskies, not Siberian huskies.  Just seeing how everyone was keeping warm was awesome too.  (SEE PICS BELOW)  I even wore an extremely warm native coat that a member gave me.  We really enjoyed our morning!  DEFINITELY worth planning a trip in winter to Fairbanks, AK! Please do!

We are SO very excited to see Kimberly at the end of the month.  She is coming with MLC’s college choir.  I can’t even explain to you how excited I am to have her in our state.  I plan to fly down to Anchorage on February 25 so that I can spend as much time with her as possible.  We are still working out the rest of our plans for the weekend, but do know that we are going to enjoy every minute of her being in Alaska. 

So as you can see, God continues to bless us in so many ways.  He continues to stay by our side through the dark and cold.  He continues to strengthen us when life gets tough.  We thank him for all the opportunities we have been given, especially the opportunity to share HIM with others.  We pray for the Lord’s continue blessings on the work being done here and all over the world. 

Missing you all so much, and praying we may see you soon!  God’s blessings to you!

Becky, Jason, and Finley, too!

 Yes, we caved, and now let him on one chair.  He only comes on when we are on.  He keeps us so warm, and is just too cute not to let him up.

 Finley and his friend Sophie (a little over a year old).  

 Finally wore out and wore out and sleeping.

 We just had to take a picture.

 

Put this one on facebook, but wanted to put it on here too.  Don't you just want give him a hug?!

 A cowl I made for my sister, Angela.  It just goes around your neck just like a scarf. 

 A hat I made for myself.  

 

 An lace patter earwarmer I made for my sister.

 My very first pair of socks.  For my cold feet!

 Before all the people, mushers, and dogs arrived.  Beautiful, cold morning in downtown Fairbanks.

 

Yukon Quest!!!  Our coats are both from church members who didn't want them anymore!  SO warm!  As you look at the pictures, you'll notice the mushers all have the fur hood like us.  It is so nice, because when you have the hoods up, the moisture collects on the fur instead of turning our eyelashes to icicles. 

 A couple of our members also enjoying this incredible experience.  Marvin has the coolest fox hat ever!

 One of the mushers taking off.

 This is the team with the Siberian huskies (the ones we think of when you say husky), but the others were all Alaskan huskies. 

 

I just love this picture.  It shows the connection that the mushers have with their dogs. 

 

One of the female mushers.  She is wearing one of the native coats/dresses that the natives wear.  Also, if you look right behind her by her feet, those are her very large and warm beaver skin mittens.  

 

This man was getting his picture taken left and right.  He was wearing a lynx hat.  So cool!

 The crowd filled with brave Fairbanksans and many others.  We stood next to some people visiting from California and Michigan. Just a reminder, we are standing on the river.  

 

A few Alaskan huskies.  The jackets were on a few of them because it was a bit cold out.  Also, you see the dogs front legs have what looks like leggings.  These were on the dogs that were from further south in Alaska, where it isn't as cold.  

Some more cool gear.  Seal skin hats and gloves.  

 

You can see it takes 4 people and an anchor in the snow to keep the sled from moving.  Those dogs want to get going!  

If you want to see a cool video, go to my facebook.  I was unable to put it on here.  Sorry :( 

January thus far. . .

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

We hope and pray everyone had a wonderful Christmas and an enjoyable new year.  Things went pretty well up here in Alaska, we just don’t have the beautiful temperatures that you do down there!  I think both Jason and myself would gladly take a trip back to the Midwest to enjoy some of your high temps. 

Speaking of temps, they have been quite low since Christmas Eve.  Ranging from 15 below to 40 below (I was told we can’t say -15 or -40.  It has to be 40 below! It’s the Alaskan way).  This time I was actually cold when it was 40 below.  We bundled up, and tried to stay warm. 

We are on the rise with hours of sun (if only the sun would shine through all the clouds and ice fog!).  Sunrise is at 10:47 a.m. and sunset at 3:07 p.m.  4 hours and 19 minutes of sunlight.  By the middle of January we should be at 5 hours of sunlight!  Now we will just pray to actually see the sun.   A trip somewhere with more than 5 hours of sun is much needed.  We will see what the Lord has in mind. 

Now Finley, he doesn’t mind the cold temps at all.  He LOVES being outside, and would stay out for hours if we let him.  He likes to go out and just play and chew on sticks and dig in the snow.  When we just can’t go out anymore, we send him out the door, and watch him from the upstairs window.  Last night there must have been something out there because he was barking like crazy.  I was too afraid to go out and look.  Could have been a moose, fox, rabbit, or just a tree that looked like any of the previous animals.  He is almost 7 months old already, and growing like a weed.   I taught him a new trick in about 2 days.  He can now play dead!  I will try to upload a video.  He continues to test our patience at times, but overall is a great pet. 

I start up work again on Monday, but won’t see kids till February.  We have so much testing that we have to do three times a year, that it takes away student contact time.  This is the part I do not enjoy one bit.  So let’s pray the month of January flies by.  In my off time, I continue to knit (some new pics of my latest projects below), walk my puppy in 40 below temperatures, play organ for church, prepare Sunday school lessons, lead our women’s group at church, and cook and bake new things.  I hope that we may be able to take a small vacation somewhere in March, whether it be to a resort here in town or a week in Hawaii! 

Jason had a very busy few weeks with Advent services, Christmas services, and New years services.  He is enjoying having time to give to his new Bible study on Ephesians and other big projects coming up in the New Year.  As I say each post, he continues to love what God is allowing him to do.  God is good! 

We are getting excited for my younger sister to come to Alaska!   She will be coming up to the Anchorage area at the end of February.  MLC’s College Choir is coming to Alaska!  Still can’t believe it.  We are in the process of planning how we will get down there to see her and spend a few days with her.  We are sad they aren’t able to come to Fairbanks, but the 6 hour drive in winter, probably not the smartest idea.  Can’t wait to see her!

We’ve been in Alaska for 6 months now.  Wow!  We’ve had our trials and tribulations, our miracles and our joyful moments, our tears of joy and our tears of sadness.  If I could go back to May, when we found out we would be traveling more than 3,000 miles to our new home, I could never have imagined everything that would occur in our first 6 months.  Being away from all of you has probably been the most difficult challenge we have faced so far, but also a blessing in disguise.  We have been moved to rely even more fully on the Lord.  To trust in the promises he has made.  To trust in the path he has laid out for us.  To trust that he is always beside us, guiding and protecting us.  Not only does this bring comfort to us, but should also bring comfort to you.  Trust in his promises for your life.  Trust that he will never leave your side.  Look to him. 

Thank you Lord for the many blessings you have given us thus far.  Help us to not take even the smallest blessing for granted, but to thank you each and every day.  We look forward to the many blessings you have awaiting us in the future. 

God bless you all this new year,

Becky, Jason, and Finley too!

 Finley doing Jason's work.

 My Christmas gift!

Finley with his new packer collar and "Finley" jersey tag.

Homemade carmel brownies.

Yum!!!

Ready for our walk.

This box was empty, he just likes to destroy them.



Our house in winter.  The beautiful sky (This is very rare - the sky is mostly cloudy, or full of ice fog.  So I stared at this patch of blue sky for about 20 minutes!)

The woods that Finley runs in.

Our wet puppy.

Look how nice and tall he sits!  Ready for another walk.



Earwarmer I knitted for my sister.  First time doing a lace pattern.

Another view.



Another style of earwarmer I knitted for my sister. Recently knitted one for myself and one for a coworker. 

6 days till Christmas!

Christmas is almost here!  Time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus!  As we get ready for the busy Christmas weekend, we strive to remember the reason we are celebrating.  Keep Christ in Christmas! I am sure you heard this throughout the last month.  It is good to hear over and over again! Keep CHRIST in Christmas!  Keep him as the center of your celebrations and the reason for which you celebrate.  We are given blessing after blessing after blessing; Jesus being the biggest blessing of all.  Keep CHRIST in your Christmas!

Christmas in Alaska:

We’ve got snow!  I know some Wisconsinites are wishing they had some.  Anyone is welcome here for Christmas.  Please, come and enjoy the snow and yet quite pleasant temperatures.  It’s been in the 20’s for the past few days.  Not the normal temperature for this time of year, but well appreciated.  Due to the warm up, the roads continue to be ice covered and slippery.  Learning how to drive in winter all over again. 

Jason has been very busy with two sermons each week, and now three for this week.  He continues to LOVE what the Lord is allowing him to do.  We had a friendship Sunday this past week, and had a few guests there.  It was a more simplified service, with everything placed in the bulletin.  We look forward to more of these in the future.  I continue to play organ for church probably twice a month.  I have also pulled out my flute to accompany choir and play with the organ.  It is great to be playing again.  We had about 16 members go Christmas caroling last Sunday.  IT was so much fun!  We went to two nursing homes here in town.  After caroling, the director and I decided that our church choir should be way more than five people!  We truly have some great singers that aren’t in choir!  Other church news: About 50 members each Sunday!  Ladies group Christmas party had 14 people and was a great success.  Outreach team meeting and coming up with some great upcoming events.  And much more!

I have 2 days left of work, then am off till January 9!  I had had a trip planned to go to Wisconsin! Was going to be a great awesome surprise, but it didn’t work out.  TO make a VERY long story short, I had to cancel my flight due to my principal at school not allowing me to use a personal day on a teacher work day.   A bit frustrating, since it was the deal of a lifetime, but I guess it is not meant to be at this time.  We will pray something else comes around.  Even though life is going great, and we have been extremely blessed since we arrived, there are times I just need to see family and friends.  Due to the darkness too, it would be great to leave Fairbanks for a bit!  We’ll see. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Finley!  He is 6 months old today!  We are so proud of all our puppy has accomplished in his short life.  Even though he has taken a few steps backward(in his teenage months we are told); not coming when called, not sitting on command, biting and mouthing a bit more, we STILL LOVE HIM.  You’ll see from the pictures that he is growing and changing like crazy.  He is close to 50 pounds, and getting darker and darker. 

Sent out Christmas packages to families!  Even though we think they should get them in time, we will do it much sooner next year.  The post office up here is INSANE during Christmas.  I am sure all are busy, but this one just seems extra busy.  Have definitely enjoyed getting Christmas cards and packages; it really helps when being so far away from loved ones.

Christmas Eve we plan to spend here at home, after our service at church, enjoying our small but wonderful family.  We plan to open our gifts, and probably enjoy some good traditional Christmas Eve food.  If we are able, we will skype the Schmill clan around 11:00 their time, to see how gift opening is going.  Christmas Day we will head to a member’s home after worship to enjoy some good company, great food, and God-willing a Packer win!  I am looking forward to my break from work, and hope to get much accomplished.  ON December 27, (happy birthday Angela and Beth), we are attending Mannheim Steamroller!  Yes !  All the way up here in Fairbanks!  See, it isn’t so bad, even Mannheim came all the way here. 

We hope and pray that you and your families have a blessed Merry Christmas!  May God be with you all as you celebrate the precious birth of His son! 

Love from Alaska,

Becky and the boys!

Jason's Pesto Spinach Lasagna. Yum!!

 He would spend all day out in the snow if he could.  I don't know what he'll do when it's gone.  Good thing we have 4-5 more months of it!  Yeh!!!!

 Being a big boy and not climbing up on our laps. 

 One of his favorite things to do. 

Was going to be on our Christmas card, but didn't love the pic.  Went with a Packer one instead.

My puppy!  I love his kisses.  Always thought that was gross till I had a dog of my own!

Finley decked out with his scarf and snow booties.  He doesn't normally wear the scarf, he rather eat it.

Our new panini maker/grill.  Decided it was too hard to start the grill in winter.  Yum!

My latest achievements!  I have been keeping really busy expanding my knitting skills.  I have moved from scarves to hats and other things. (Can't show all my pics because some are Christmas gifts.  More to come)  This was a baby hat given to a friend of mine back in WI.  She just had a little girl.

Baby boy hat made for a member who just had a baby boy two days ago.  I really love knitting, and hope to keep experiementing.  So if you have any requests, I am up for making anything.  Gloves, socks, and baby booties are next on my list to master. 

December thus far . . .

December thus far . . .

I know yet again it has been a LONG time since my last post.  Life continues to be LIFE!

Since the last time I wrote, there really isn’t too much new.  So this one will be mostly pictures.

Holiday times have been a little bit harder than I thought; more for me than for Jason.  I very much miss all my friends and family.  We are very blessed to have each other though, our congregation, and of course our puppy!  We definitely pray the winter goes quickly, and that friends and family may be able to come up soon.  My younger sister, Kimberly, plans to come up with College Choir from MLC in February.  They won’t be able to make it all the way up here, we will have to go down to them in Anchorage.  It will be amazing to have her in the state.  Anyone is welcome ANYTIME!  We know it is a HUGE expensive trip, but our door is always open.

Temperatures have been up and down.  Today, high of 45 degrees! Crazy.  Warmer than Manitowoc, WI.  The bad thing is this is when the roads get very bad.  They become a sheet of ice; so we will see what tomorrow brings.

Finley is about 45 pounds and almost 6 months old (Dec. 19) and is doing great!  The pictures will show what he’s been up to!

Church work continues to go well.  Jason is VERY busy with two sermons a week and lots of other work to be done.  He is learning how to balance his time wisely.  It is a learning experience for all of us.  I continue to teach Sunday school and play organ occasionally.  We have started Advent services here at Syndoulos.  They haven’t had Wednesday night services for quite a few years, so it was neat to get them going again.  We had quite a good turnout for our first service, as well as our soup and sandwich meal.  God is good! 

Friday night we went to a UAF (University of Alaska Fairbanks) Nanook hockey game.  It was so much fun!  WE got free tickets from a church member.  We hope to continue to go to things like this.  Fairbanks is a very busy city, with a HUGE arts program!  There is always so much to see and do through the long winter.  We are looking forward to experiencing many new things.  We are in search of cross country skis and boats so that we can start trying out all the beautiful trails. 

December 21^st brings the SHORTEST day of the year!  We are almost there!  From there, it turns around and we start gaining sunlight and minutes back.  4 hours and 26 minutes of sunlight today :(

Enjoy the pictures!

 Fairbanks at -30 when the smoke from buildings can't even go straight up, because it's too cold.  It goes up and then horizontal across Fairbanks.

Some members gave us this awesome big tree that they got from the transfer site (a nice name for the dump where people toss stuff they don't want), but actually people get rid of really nice stuff.  Beautiful tree.  Finley had just spend 4 hours playing with 4 kids, and was completely wore out, but of course had to sleep right by us.

Later he got to chew apart a Christmas Light box.

He still wants to fit under the furniture, but can't anymore.

Our stuffed peppers Jason made last night. yum!!

Our baby!  I made him look like that.

His first bath at 2 months.

His 4th or 5th bath!  He's getting so big.

Shaking it out!

Our crimpy puppy.

Going a little crazy with the towel after bath.

This is an old picture from two weeks ago when it was so cold.  One of my past students smurf that she sent and that I'm getting pictures with. 

Done tree

Lit tree!