Congrats, Jared

I have made a notable exception to my policy on not discussing politics online to post about Jared's campaigns. Yes, today, Jared was up for election. He ran for Seat A from Chugiak, Eagle River and JBER (Joint Base Elemendorf Richardson) of the Anchorage Assembly. This is not his first campaign.  Stepping into politics takes courage. I was SHOCKED at the amount of money spent to keep Jared from a local office. I was bemused at the things I began to hear about Jared - it became obvious these people do not KNOW Jared. They probably aren't interested in hearing proof that what they believe about him is incorrect, or that the news sources they are trusting are provably inaccurate....and then I realize this is sure to happen on higher levels of politics, as well.  We would all do well to check and recheck our sources before spreading them or at least honestly admit our bias'....

These thoughts ran through my mind and then the prayer that Jared would win and finally the acknowledgement that ok, "God - your will, not mine! But I sure hope we think the same thing would be good on this one!"

Jared was spending the wait with a few friends. He didn't want a big watch party, so we went ahead and went to life group. We knew the results would begin to come out after 8:30 p.m. As the group discussion continued, I admit, I snuck a peek at my phone and did a quick check!

The final results won't be certified until Wed. evening, but this is a great lead. It's a good enough lead I've heard others call the race for Jared.  Congrats, Assemblyman. 

Jared & Jamin 📷via Jamin's facebook 

📷from Jared Goecker for Alaska

Magnificent Monday

Mondays used to simply be the start of a workweek/school week, with all the stereotypes which go with Monday, Monday. 

Since Oct 23,2023 Mondays are more....a reminder, a marker...flannel Mondays are still a part of the journey Michael, and I are on...not by any set or planned way...just happens.  BUT Monday's have also become Cy's Girls day.... I get a brief glimpse of Livie before she heads for school, spend the day playing with Josi, have lots of quiet time to read, think, pray during nap times, and then Liv comes home from school.  It's a great way to spend a Monday. 

Josi was happier to greet me this Monday than she was last time. 

In all the talk of who Josi looks like I've noted no one has mentioned OUR LIKENESS. We truly favor one another - something about the nose and ears I think. Genetics are strong.  

Josi is an enthusiastic and wild driver....such fun! 

I am loving the SPRING days. It seems EARLY (and it is for us), but this may mean an early fall so I'm determined to enjoy the sun to the fullest! Josi and I went out for a walk. 

Liv came home and we discovered a big box on the doorstep! A new pack for all to enjoy this spring, summer, fall. I see many hikes in Josi's future. 

An advantage to the longer days is the light as I drive home to the valley. I stopped at the cemetery. There are times my heart is full and I simply need to stop here and spend some focused time remembering, processing, praying....I have yet to run into anyone but family here. 

I have also discovered this is a good place to walk and pray...I can easily get in a mile or two while I process. This was scenic but the cows kept turning their back on me when I snapped the shot....ah well.

I got home to discover Stacia is home from her housesitting adventure. Her next gig will be the trip to Japan. I find it funny that meta is filling my feed with shots of Japan since she announced her upcoming trip. I don't mind, I see some upcoming trips to Japan in our future. 

GG was happy to have Stacia home for many reasons. She is one of his most consistent puzzlers. He called me to snap a picture of this finished puzzle. 

We Love Sundays

We love Sundays. It begins with the mad rush to get everyone up and out the door on time to drive to Eagle River. We meet up with our muni of Anchorage kids...participate in a fantastic meeting and head out for lunch afterwards. Allie took a car this morning too as she and Stacia wanted to come home directly after lunch. For the first time ever the front handicap spot we usually take was FILLED. This was an adventure for GG as we found some spots in the back, but he doesn't do stairs well....so we enjoyed an impromptu spring walk around the campus to the front. I told him it was good for him. He was a good sport. What we thought we felt was borne out by numbers...ACF is growing! ::snort::  We broke 2,000 for the first time ever on a NORMAL week. Brian has encouraged some of us 10 and 11:30 people need to move to 8:30, Wed night or the NE Anchorage campus.  Most exciting to me was hearing the number of new believers in Jesus (64) and the number of those taking the Crash Course which is the next step in discipleship. Good stuff. 

We went to Garcia's for the first time ever  after service and it was yummy. The girls and GG left to come directly home. Michael and I visited Lowes. We picked up things for a project for Michael, a deck box, and seeds...we picked up more seeds. 

Back at home we continued to relax...and Nolan dropped by for games.

GG sporting a new birthday shirt. 

Michael, Stacia, Nolan, Allie

As the day wore on, I opted to head for the hot tub. I had some interesting new hot tub partners.

Spring Saturday

We are having such an EARLY spring! Part of me wishes winter would hang on just a bit longer as the frantic, manic work season is about to begin. ::snort:: 

I got GG up and ready for the day and then I went to CoRielle's. Benny had a soccer game in Wasilla today. Danny came with us this time. It was a fun outing. 

Danny was happy to be out with Mom and Bachan. 

Benny is number 7 in the white jersey this week. 

Benny made two points this week. You have to blow it up to see.... but this is Benny after kicking the ball...the ball is behind the goalie. 

I collected all the snowmen from my home and packed them away. I put spring pillow covers out. I think I have a few more spring decorations in the garage. I'll get them out next week. LOL 

I spent an hour and a half outside cleaning up poop...dog poop, chicken poop and moose poop. I was happy to be outside - not so happy with the specific job. ::snort:: Michael scouted locations for putting cameras up outside and tried to track down a hot tub leak. 

I got into the greenhouse and moved out the yard chairs. I brought four to them to the decks. It was 100* in the greenhouse. I am starting seeds this week...and maybe I'll get an early start on tomatoes. I don't know I'm leery of getting too much going outside...because everyone says NOT to until at LEAST Memorial Day weekend. We have a plan to increase my seed-starting space. 

I HAD to check out the garden. There's still snow out here. I need to wait for the ground to warm up a bit. However, there is much less snow than we usually have in March. Usually, the snow is still COVERING the raised beds. 

I forced myself to come inside and get some dinner on the table. Stacia visited for dinner and she and Allie are playing Slap Jack. Michael is checking out his screen world, GG is reading, and I plan to head out to the hot tub. My back aches after all the moving of poop. 

           Ah, everyone joined me...

I hope your Saturday has been wonderful too. 

The One Where....

...we collect air filters of all kinds, Michael finishes his victim impact statement and Allie elevates her ankle...

For more details keep reading....

Many are in a flurry preparing for the predicted eruption of Mt. Spurr. We are far enough away we don't expect a lot of trouble...but ash could happen. I guess we got 1/4 inch of ash from the last eruption of Mt Spurr in 1992. Some are predicting 1/2 an inch - soon. We know folks building ash shelters. We've taken a moderate approach. We'll stay home when the ash arrives, as I'm told roads are slippery with ash.  We ordered all the filters we need for our home (above) and cars (below). 

The top box is N95 masks if we need them for a couple of days. Our supply chain is subject to interruption up here so we always store plenty of food should trucks or planes be delayed. We have eggs, a freezer of salmon and beef. I think we're ready. 

In other news Michael finished his victim impact statement, and I mailed it off.  His was professional - and tightly written - only 3 typewritten pages. 

Allie's job involves a lot of time on her feet, running and wrestling with dogs. She was told not to go back to work until Friday...and even then, not to run. Today, she worked on school - and yes, she kept her ankle elevated.  She still has a bit of a limp but she's much, much better than she was and reports the pain and swelling are subsiding. 

Things are Happening

 Big things are happening with our youngest two girls.  These years are amazing....the senior year hits with fuzzy plans....and before you know things are falling into place and they are flying high! 

Allie is about to wing across the continent participate in the film program she's been accepted into. OK - not until fall - but it feels imminent.  Stacia has decided to finish her Bachelor of Artgs degree and then pursue a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language. 

Of course, our thoughts and conversations visit the upcoming separations....the girls have solved the problem of missing each other. 

It just may work! They'll have to try some practice runs. Treat any large boxes coming your way from Alaska with great care. 

If this works, my friends, I may begin shipping myself all over the world. Prepare to receive shipment. 

A Depressed Dog, a Sprained Ankle and a Therapeutic Exercise

Millie does her best to nudge Michael into getting up. I find it hilarious when she gives up and joins him for a snooze.  She misses her college girl. I think she gets a bit depressed. 

My one goal today was to finish my victim impact statement and get it mailed into the Department of Corrections, so my words can be included in the pre-sentencing report for Josiah's murderer. I have been DREADING doing this. The first two questions were fairly easy. There were tears as I shared how his murder has impacted me, how things have changed and then I hit question number 3. Share what you'd like the judge to know about your loved one, share memories, anything else you want the judge to know as he or she considers sentencing.  Whew!  My thoughts swirled. I knew I would need more than the space allowed. They encouraged you to add a page as needed...so I did.  I had so much I wanted to communicate to the judge. At points in the trial, it felt like Josiah's life had less value than the defendant's right to a defense. The state has the burden of proof. This is good - but I didn't expect a defense lawyer can say hateful things which defamed Josiah's character without proof. But they can. I wanted the judge to know Josiah's life had value; he was a good, caring, loving man, and he mattered. I began writing...

Allie came home early from work. In the midst of breaking up a fight between a pure-bred Doberman and a mutt, she was thrown to the ground and injured in the tussle. Michael took her to urgent care for a check-up.  Allie came home with an ace bandage for her acute sprain and strained ligaments AND most importantly a note for work.  (Note *I* am being dramatic; Allie had to be persuaded to go to the doctor). 

I continued to write and edit. We have been told we can speak at the sentencing, but we can't speak directly to the criminal and must direct our words to the court. I wrote much of what I want to say to HIM while telling the judge what I thought about various things, and I realized I COULD speak to him while addressing the court. snort:: This turned into a therapeutic exercise; gut-wrenchingly hard but therapeutic. My voice will be heard. I was allowed a bit of power in sharing who Josiah was; what the community lost with his murder, and what I think needs to be done. 

Yes, I DID need additional pages! 

I fixed and served dinner. I hadn't spent much time outside today so I walked the packet down to the mailbox - 1.5 mile walk. 

It's on its way. 

Stacia came home with a friend, Lonicera, and they took Allie's mind off her aching ankle. The girls will be in Lonicera's wedding in June. 

This is my favorite shot. 

We enjoyed the brief visit. Millie is a bit perplexed by Stacia's comings and goings.