New things this year!

Earlier this year (in April) I began the THM (Trim Healthy Mama) plan.  I had heard about it previously and really was not interested because the food sounded bland and boring.  I gave up sugar in late 2014 for a while and then found myself eating the same stuff I had been eating after several months - I did lose weight though!  So, I took the plunge in April of this year and have lost almost 30 pounds!  This is an eating plan where I do not feel deprived and I feel great.  My migraines have virtually disappeared.   I'm pleased with the plan and hoping I can stick with it for life.

We took a 6,000 mile round trip to Alaska this summer - by 15 passenger van!  It was quite the journey and we made lots of great memories and enjoyed seeing our friends again!

Another great thing this year? I decided to try (again) to read my Bible in a year. This is the BEST I have done ever because it is September and I am still keeping up with my reading.  It's not a "bucket list" type of thing to cross off, but if I can do it once, I can keep it up and learn more each time I go through the entire Bible.

Lastly, my husband and I started taking the Financial Peace University class and I am very excited (and maybe we are both a bit nervous) about this way of dealing with finances.  It is a more God honoring and practical way than what we have been doing.

You can pray for us as we eat healthier and strive to live by His Word!

February 2015

April 2016

June 2016

August 2016

Sept 2016

Time flies!

Wow, I've had this blog for over 8 years now.  Sorry for the lack of updating.  I guess Facebook seems to take over as it is so easy to post and update there.

We are less than a month away from being done with the school year!  Owen has learned to read and progressing nicely with math.  My oldest is finishing up 10th grade! Hard to believe!
 Lots of summer plans ahead for visiting friends and having family come visit our home.

Our youngest will be 2 years old already next month!  Just going to have a small family celebration at home.  Zoe is the second kiddo to be wearing braces - poor kids with crowded mouths:(


I have plans to be able to read through the whole Bible this year and so far it is going very well!  Getting up earlier has helped me have some quiet time before the household is all up and things get busy.

Here are a few random photos that aren't too old (this year!)

Rooftop dining in the cities!

What a doll:)

Resurrection Sunday

She loves to color - Mama loves it when it's on paper!

Em, Zoe, Tol at the MOA

O man :)

Sign I made for a baby shower

Drama queen:)

Deep thoughts!

Sleepy time!

Sweet girl

The parents!

My storyteller girl!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

God is so kind to give us His Son!  May you see

the truth and enjoy his goodness!

Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber; Holy angels guard thy bed; Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head. Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment, House and home, thy friends provide; All without thy care, or payment, All thy wants are well supplied. How much better thou'rt attended Than the Son of God could be, When from heaven He descended, And became a child like thee! Soft and easy is thy cradle; Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay, When His birthplace was a stable, And His softest bed was hay. See the kindly shepherds round him, Telling wonders from the sky! When they sought Him, there they found Him, With his Virgin-Mother by. See the lovely babe a-dressing; Lovely infant, how He smiled! When He wept, the mother's blessing Soothed and hushed the holy child. Lo, He slumbers in His manger, Where the honest oxen fed; —Peace, my darling! here's no danger! Here's no ox a-near thy bed! Mayst thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days; Then go dwell forever near Him, See His face, and sing His praise! I could give thee thousand kisses, Hoping what I most desire; Not a mother's fondest wishes Can to greater joys aspire.

- by Isaac Watts

Merry Christmas from our family to you and yours!  It is hard to believe that we have been in Minnesota for close to a year now.  I joked with my husband that it is the longest vacation we have taken - still missing Alaska.  

We have had a busy year since last Christmas settling in to our rental home and bringing home baby.  Mike's job is great (I think so!) because we get to see him all the time and it is a blessing that he gets to do so much with us.  

Our church is a solid, Bible preaching and teaching place.  Mike has had the opportunity to preach a few times when the pastor is not in town.  He and a few other men do a wonderful job sharing God's truth. 

Shopping is never too far away, and sometimes I find all the choices overwhelming!  I am thankful that we live in a small town where there is no traffic and it's pretty quiet all around.  The population is about 6 times SMALLER than Fairbanks if that gives you any indication!  

School is nearing the halfway point already.  The younger girls are taking piano lessons from a lady who comes to our home once a week - what a blessing! They are enjoying their Wednesday night Kid's Club led by a wonderful couple at church.  Our little man is learning to write and know letter sounds - hard to believe this time next year that he may be reading!  Sweet baby girl is crawling all over the place now and pulling herself up on everything.      

Our first road trip back in the lower 48 was to visit family for Thanksgiving.  We traveled over to Pennsylvania, down onto Virginia and finally Florida.  It was great meeting Mike's uncle and getting to see his family and my family and being in warm Florida!  On the way home, we stopped in an Army town where Mike met up with an old buddy and I got to see a friend that I had made in Alabama years ago. 

I have really enjoyed trying to decorate more and get this particular home working for us - it would be much easier to be in one place for a while to have and keep a system that works, but it keeps me busy and happy.  Happy that the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful family and important job!  Looking forward to the work the Lord will do in 2015. 

Well, only the Lord knew back in December that we'd be leaving Alaska to trek across Canada and dip down into the lower 48 to settle in Minnesota!  I sure do miss Alaska.
Hubby found us a good house to rent and a church to attend nearby.   I'm all set up with a doctor for me and baby - a little more than 2 months to go (or whenever she decides to arrive). 

Minnesota is blustery! Alaska might be cold, into those really fun 50 below type days, but the wind here is not so fun.  There is sunshine though, which I am enjoying.

We took the family to the city for the Mall of America - big mistake on a cold weekend!  Not doing that again.  They enjoyed some rides and we shopped a few stores and had lunch at a placed called Noodles- really good!

We attended church twice so far - a Wednesday night and Sunday's services.  Friendly folks in a small church with good teaching.  Dr. Lance Ketchum is the pastor.

Til next time, which might be after baby girl arrives!

 

'Tis the season

     'Tis the season for remembering special holidays past and for missing loved ones - far away or gone from this earth.  I sure have wonderful memories of Christmas as a youngster: watching mom make cinnamon bread, making a wish list of gifts, a break from school, Grandma's house for Christmas Day, reuniting with family from all over, writing thank-you notes, decorating a tree, driving around the neighborhoods admiring the lights on houses, watching Charlie Brown specials, and so many more I have probably forgotten!


     This year I have a different kind of wish list than I did when I was a kid.  It's more like a prayer list!

• Salvation of family members and friends
• A job for hubby
• A healthy baby and mama in 2014
• A happy home and a testimony to God's love and mercy  

     I am so glad God gave us His Word!  It gives a purpose to this life that is not always easy. 
He gave us Jesus, THE gift to have for all time.  It doesn't matter that we don't know the "birth date" of Jesus, we know He came and we celebrate that precious gift to ALL people.  A gift is
not your own until you receive it!

Luke 2:10
     And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.