My little Christmas tree at home in Alaska....the other 2 pictures show my fur hat, made by one of the women in the village. It's made with silver fox fur and incredibly warm.
I started my first teaching job in Tuntutuliak, AK in August 2005. I spent 3 years teaching in Alaska before moving home for a year to prepare for a new adventure in Africa.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Christmas with the Family
My little Christmas tree at home in Alaska....the other 2 pictures show my fur hat, made by one of the women in the village. It's made with silver fox fur and incredibly warm.
Monday, January 14, 2008
School Christmas Program
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Something to ponder...
The parAdox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to l ife not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window a nd nothing in the stockroom.
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I hope this finds all of you doing well.
I arrived in MN early this morning,this time without my canine companion...I'm missing him already, but am sure he's having a fun time with Kat, Iain and Mia.
My first flight went very well and actually arrived in the village at the scheduled time. I went to Bethel were I stayed the evening, I ordered supper, and curled up for the night before nine. Saturday (the 22nd) I flew out of Bethel and again everything went smoothly. I met up with a friend from Kwethluck and another SpEd teacher and we had a great chance to chit chat. In Anchorage, I met up with another friend and we were on the same flight to MN; this helped time to fly while waiting at the airport.
Before boarding the last flight I felt a wave of nausea, I found myself praying "please God, help this flight to pass quickly." Needless to say when I arrived in Minneapolis...you can say it was a "grand" entry.
It still does not seem possible that Christmas has arrived. Tomorrow we will start the festivities, and they will be staggered through the 5th of January. It's great to be back with family and friends.
God bless and have a safe and happy holiday season.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Trip to Bethel with the girls :)
Pam and Marie in the car....The smartest thing we did in Bethel was rent a car for around $100/day plus $20 collision insurance. Notice that we are well packed. :) (and those aren't even all of the boxes...some of them went with Maat, Zach and Lena)
Pretty scenery in Bethel...looks MUCH different with the snow and frost :)
Kat, pumping gas...LOL I guess MN drivers have a hard time figuring out Alaska gas pumps :) The station worker came out twice to tell us how to operate the pump :) Gas prices were $4.77/gal in Bethel for self-serve and $4.93 for full-service.
Simple Beauty/supper at Marie's House
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Hat Day
Today found us with a fresh layer of beautiful snow on the ground :) It's so exciting winter has come :)---remind me of that in a few months ;)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Crazy Hair
Saturday: Halloween costume day
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Pumping Fuel
Yesterday I received a new classroom door--part of the continued school rennovations. It is currently one of the ugliest doors I've ever seen; but i guess doors don't need to be attractive just functional. I think the painters will be back to paint the doors and casing which will brighten things up a bit :) Construction workers continue to keep long hours starting work around 4:30-5:00 and working til 7 am. Iain and the guys seem to be making great progress on the sewer pipes they are working on. I'll try to post pictures of the wooden casing in the near future.
Today some people from YKHC (the hospital) were here to dicuss diabetes with the kids and to do free blood sugar screenings for all the staff. Kat was having a "how sweet are you" discussion at breakfast time.
The School Wheels :) and the fuel pumping trailer
Upon arriving home from work this afternoon I felt my house was a bit chilly. Frank's out of town and I thought now might be a good time to try and figure things out instead of waiting til 1 tonight to really notice the cool house. I gave Nick a call and he came over and we pumped (well..i mostly watched) 200 gallons of fuel into my tank, but the boiler didn't come on so Nick gave Mark (the maintanance man) a call he came over to "bleed" the air out. The house is still cold but should warm up soon. :)
The Fuel is pumped from the above tank to the trailer and then pumped to my tank(below). Mark's job doesn't sound very thrilling :P Thanks to Nick and Mark for coming to the rescue tonight :)
Last night Dave hauled water and asked if I needed any. I filled my tank and he did all the work with the hoses it was very sweet of him to do that for Pam and I. Agan I'm blessed with wonderful co-workers and neighbors.
On another note....the mouse deterrant I ordered arrived in the mail yesterday. It has a lovely pine smell. I placed four bags in my kitchen and haven't seen a mouse since then. I pray that this will help; I really am not fond of those little buggers.
Time to scoot, enjoy the rest of your week :)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
First Snowfall and a Beautiful Morning :)
Cracking the eggs to mix and scramble for the Breakfast Pizza
Maat "hard at work"
The snowfall out my front door on Friday night :)
Taken from my back steps this morning--Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!
Taken from my back steps this morning. Pictures cannot come close to captivating God's splendor :)
My Back Yard-Breathtaking