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 :(