May-June 2012!!!!!!
It's been so long, but here is why! I am not going to write as much up here, just enjoy the 29 pictures and their detailed descriptions:
Finley being cuddly
Chocolate chip molten lava cakes! So yummy! I have been trying so many amazing recipes on Pinterest. Check it out if you haven't yet.
We have been doing MANY projects around the house. With the help of some awesome people, our deck finally got a railing. This is the before picture. We hardly sat out here, because it is very high off the ground.
The after picture! We love it so much! And, we found that wooden table and chairs from a rummage sale. Thanks Plasters for all your help! Now we sit out there all the time. Great place for an afternoon nap.
So the 2 weeks after school got out, I got to work on house projects. Our downstairs bathroom was 1st on my list. Here are a couple of before pictures.
Another before picture after the tile is ripped up.
After picture! A little paint, new tiles, homemade shelves and wreath = totally different bathroom.
Another after picture.
Now you can see the wreath.
June 4-8 was our VBS! Amazing Desert JOurney! Let's just say, it was amazing, thanks to our amazing Lord and Savior! 23 kiddos, only 8-10 of our own, lots of amazing volunteers, incredible decorations, and pretty good weather. With everyone working together, it was a huge success. Can't wait to see what the Lord has in mind for next year.
One of our helpers from Eagle River, AK. She was Finley's best friend for the week.
Her and her incredible family spent the entire week with us not only helping with our VBS, but also helping here at the house. I LOVED having a full house, and boy did we get a lot done.
Thanks Mooty's!
Craft table at VBS.
Some of our great kiddos and helpers.
Totally cool camel that one of the Mooty children painted.
More of VBS. Our RED team!
Finley even joined the red team!
More fun at VBS at Light of the World Lutheran Church!
Out at a member's property. Finley loved chasing the four wheeler. Totally wore him out!
Finley is becoming pretty trustworthy. He sticks around us when off leash.(most of the time) Sometimes he still gets a little adventurous.
In the pool to keep cool. He is definitely a WINTER dog.
Booties I made for a baby in Eagle River, AK.
Baby moose hat that a friend made for me to give to my new godson, Parker Watson! Congrats Kristin and Ian, Parker is a tremendous blessing from the Lord!
The baby blanket I knitted for baby Parker. Only took me about 30 hours or so, but turned out great!
Out hiking around Alaska!
Kayaking beautiful Chena Lakes. Hopefully we will get out MANY more times this year. We are hoping to camp on that island that you see. Just have to figure out the best way to get Finley out there. My hope is to train him to sit in a raft that will be pulled by our kayaks. We will let you know how that goes.
Hanging basket out front with all the flowers. Thanks to a dear friend who helped me with all of this, and weaved those sticks through the entire basket (another pinterest idea) The flowers grow SO well here, so I am enjoying getting things going this summer.
1:00 a.m. Thursday is our longest day of the year. 21 hours and 50 minutes. We have blue skies and sun almost all night. Let me just say, now I know why people live in Alaska. We live for our summer sun! We had quite a bit of rain last week, but this week has been tremendous. Sunny and 75-80 degrees. Supposedly it is a good thing that we had all that rain, because now our chance of forest fires is much lower. Some years, they have had such bad fires that you can't even go outside. We have found ourselves staying up till 1 or 2 every night. We just don't want to miss any of the nice weather.
Our leech field is done for, so here is the start of our new one. Thanks to all our members who helped tear down 40+ trees. Now starts the fun part, digging into frozen ground. I miss all the trees, but love all the sun our house gets now. Winter will be a bit warmer in the house.
Jason continues his handiwork. He built this raised bed, and now we are attempting to grow our first garden. Cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes. I also have rhubarb growing on the side of the garage and sunflowers as well.
Finley turned "1" today! We are so blessed to have this puppy. Even though he is still jumping up here and there, eating the tops off my sunflowers, barking loudly late at night when we let him out (he can't seem to get used to all this daylight either), and eating us out of house and home, we still LOVE him. He has been with us this entire year, getting us out at 50 below, being there when we were sad and lonely, keeping our minds occupied, and so much more.
We thank the Lord that he is in our lives. Love you pup!
Just a few other events:
- Church work continues to be blessed by God (canvassing and other summer outreach activities)
- Many fun moments with members, growing closer to them each day
- Amazing summer weather allowing for more walks, runs, and trips to water for Finley to fetch sticks.
- I have begun teaching piano lessons to a few member children! Hoping to expand and grow. Possibly teaching flute and voice as well. I have just started to get my name out into the community.
There will definitely be more pictures to come soon. We are so blessed to have Mom and Dad Strong here for a few more days. Then Grandma and Grandpa Strong arrive and stay for a week. Then Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa Schmill, and Stephanie arrive and stay for 10 days. And last but not least, our friends Paul and Cathy arrive. We are so blessed to have all these friends and family being able to visit. We know it is not easy. We want them to know it means the world to us! WE also thank all our other friends and family for all their support! We could not have made it through this year without you. By July 12, we will have been here a year. What an adventurous year it has been.
Thank you Lord for all the blessings you continue to shower upon us day after day!
Lots of love from Fairbanks, AK
Becky, Jason, and Finley too!
