Remember the rainy day I mentioned in my past entry? Well, it did stop raining once or twice since then (I'm totally serious). I'm amazed at how much rain we get here..and my fellow Alaskans assure me again, "this isn't normal". I don't know. I'm working through it, though. We joke at home when things are not going our way or we are discouraged about 'whatever' by saying "well at least it's still raining!". T's new motto is "don't change your plans, change your clothes". I know now that I need to outfit the kiddos for the rain a little better next Fall.
T injured his back earlier this week and that kept him down for a few days. Poor guy!! I know when he isn't even able to carry on a conversation because of his discomfort, that it's really bad! He's slowly on the mend, bless his heart. Many exciting things are starting up at church now that Fall is here - small groups, classes, retreats, prayer groups. We see God working so often and regularly within our church family and are praying for great things in the months to come. What a blessing. T has been busy trying to implement many of the new changes and has been...well, just really busy. I continue to pray that God will equip him perfectly to do what is needed. The task and need is great.
Our A was mildly traumatized last week when she brought a sealed envelope from school to us at home saying she was going to be one of 10 in her class who was going to be transferred to a different classroom. The 3rd grade class sizes were too large, so they needed to add a class. Apparently, she was settling in nicely to her original class and the thought of moving was devastating to her. Because she has adapted so well to ALL of the changes we've experienced in the last 4 years, I was kind of surprised that she was so upset. But, we prayed about it and tried to keep a positive attitude about the situation. Long story short - she came home from school on 'moving day' with a big smile on her face. She loves her new teacher and MANY of her friends moved with her. Thank you, Lord!
She ran a 1 mile cross country race today. She was pushed down in the first minute of her race with other 3rd and 4th graders of the Anchorage School District, but she managed to run her mile in about 11.5 minutes. She's very excited! And guess what? It wasn't raining!!
'Luky Mittel G' (as cousin Haley once referred to her in a drawing/letter) is excelling quickly in 
her ice skating lessons she and A now take each Saturday morning. She loves being in a class and gets LOTS of attention from her instructors as she is in a smaller group. Bliss! While at home during the week she is enjoying 'doing school' with mom. This week we made homemade apple pie - yummy!
Big E - He had a great time a couple of weeks ago when we went to the Alaska State Fair - tractors and machines with wheels EVERYWHERE! Here, it DID rain, but E LOVES the rain and I can never seem to find a dry pair of shoes for him to wear. He spots those puddles from a great distance and you can see the look in his eye as he prepares to jump in each and every one - there is NO holding him back. Okay, he's a boy - he needs to do this kind of stuff, right? Gotta love those wet feet!I have been busy volunteering at A's school, helping in whatever way I can at church, working weekly, trying to prepare for the winter ( or at least thinking ALOT about how to survive it practically, physically, financially, mentally and emotionally:). I got T's blessing to get a gym membership. It was a BIG step for me to go for it, but I'm so glad I did. I realized how badly I have needed this kind of an outlet - the opportunity to just sweat...I waited too long, but much better late than never:). A few weeks ago I told you about the other BIG step I wanted to take in starting a prayer group for moms of kids in A's school. God orchestrated a way for me to have contact with two other moms about my desire to do this and they are joining me weekly to pray for our own kiddos, their teachers and other school staff members and their schoolmates. I'm thrilled.
We think it is pretty cool that Alaska has been getting so much attention lately with our new Republican VP candidate. Many have asked, "what do you think of Sarah Palin?" Though we haven't been here to see all of the great things she has done for this state, I liked her very much when I first learned about her in April when she had her baby. I appreciated her story of her sweet baby boy born with Downs Syndrome and her clearly evident faith and value of life. And after her nomination, I admit that I (along with many in America) have become a little 'star struck'. (I'll also bravely confess that when I got my haircut this week I asked my stylist if she could give me bangs like Sarah Palin...okay, I know I'm pathetic. But they look nothing hers, my stylisyt must be a Democrat!) Anyway, I'm a little more down to earth now that the hype has worn off. I know she is not perfect, she is fallen like the rest of us - but I am excited about what she could offer our country. 80% of Alaska LOVES her (that is her approval rating), but Alaskans are jealous people. They are very proud of their state and their representators. Most of them don't want to lose her to 'the lower 48', but overall, I do think she has a lot of support. We'll see. It is such a scary time for our country. I'm glad God already has it all wor
ked out.Autumn in Alaska has definitely arrived. Our temps are low, the leaves are golden and falling, the people at the library were digging up the beautiful, abudant flowers we enjoyed seeing outside their building this summer, the days are shorter (sun up at app. 7-7:15am, sun setting at app. 8:15pm- sigh...) and I have already felt the weather telling me to make my first stew and soup of the season. The briskness of the air we breathe in each time we are outside reminds us that change is (still) in our midst - change in the weather, the season, our schedules and routine and, like I think I have mentioned before, hopefully in our hearts, it's ongoing. Everyday, we want to be more like Jesus and that always requires change, doesn't it? But thankfully, (again like I think I have said before) our God STILL does not change. His love and mercy and grace are consistent and sufficient. Thank you, God, for making that truth so very clear and so very real in my life.
I'm praying that He is doing just that for you also!
No comments:
Post a Comment