Wow, time flies by...it seems we just started this school year and it's nearly over. If I've calculated correctly, only 36 sleeps until I leave Tunt permanantly.

In mid March we had one day off for spring Break..Pam and I flew into Anchorage and had a wonderful time relaxing and touring the beauty of the area. The scenery is captivating.



On March 17th, with mixed feelings I submitted my resignation to Frank. Though excited about pending possibilities I was aprehensive about the unknown.



On April 2nd, I was accepted as a member with Wycliffe Bible Translators, (the same day I was replaced by another SpEd teacher) now I will begin to raise prayer and financial support. I am in awe at the support of those around me. Yesterday my partnership brochures arrived, Syliva jumped in and started to help fold them, then Kat came and said "Can I help?" and Pam arrived a few minutes later and said "Give me some to fold" awhile later another staff member came in and helped stuff envelopes. We had 300 brochures folded in no time. These little gestures mean a lot and I know that I am blessed with great friends. I am so lucky to have people such as Kat, Iain, Pam, Sylvia, and Maat around me, willing to jump in and help and do what they can just because they want to. They are truly treasured friends and will be missed greatly next year.



We had state testing the first week in April, my students had a strong determination and some stayed until after 6 pm 3 nights that week, trying to put forth their best effort on the test.



Since announcing my resignation, students have had many a question and have been trying to figure out life's questions. It is great to watch their new interest and curiosity grow, as well as watching them grow from the "kids" I knew when I first arrived into the teenagers and young adults they are today.



The weather warmed up a bit last week but has since cooled off and snowed again...one would think spring might soon be here?? ;)

My classroom door--decorated for spring

Hope everyone is doing well! have a wonderful week! :)

Pending Possibilities

Well, it is already March...as some eagerly count down the remaining days of the school year; I join but with some apprehension. Though nothing is concrete as of yet, there is a very slim possibility that I will return to the tundra for a 4th year.
My mind and heart have been whirling with conflicting emotions, and anxiety, wondering what God has in store for me next. I feel led to pursue missions and have been working on the application process with Wycliffe Bible Translators. The opportunity landed in my lap, and many doors have opened up; with God's timing. At the same time, this is home now, and the goodbyes will be hard.

I am nearly to the end of the Wycliffe application process; having completed the application, an informal interview, a Bible knowledge assessment, an interview with my home church pastor, and several papers. I'm hoping for a decision of membership by March 19th. From there I will work with a pre-field Rep. to determine how to gather sponsorship and budgeting etc.

There are currently 2 Special Education positions available in Africa; one in Cameroon and one in Tanzania (my first pick). Today feelings of hesitation and questioning have been replaced with feelings of excitement and eager anticipation. I've spent the day doing some more paperwork and calculating as well as researching Tanzania. The pictures I've seen of the city and the beach/resort area near the school are surreal. LOL--going from sub-zero temperatures to 90's and along the ocean and having trees; even thoughts of being able to shop or go out to eat if I want are unreal....what about no snow??? Won't that be different?

Not much else happening here right now....

A few prayer requests:
1. God's will is done regarding acceptance with Wycliffe
2. Decisions regarding my contract for next school year
3. If accepted to Wycliffe, my field placement and support.


Have a wonderful weekend!!

Snow and Vehicles :)

A few weeks ago....(maybe a month) they brought fuel tanks up; they were working on installing them using a crane, and trucks!! We all turned our heads to catch a glimpse of the trucks out our windows. Some pictures of the guys working and making noise..... The first pictures shown are of the snow we got one night towards the end of January. A beautiful, white, soft, fluffy snow :)

My front steps :) Can anybody spy Rocky's dog house??

The boardwalk between my house and Dave and Angie's house.

What I found when I opened my front door :)

Driving on the pond...(we had to take pictures; how often is a rig in town??)

A picture just for my guys ;)

One of two trucks we have in the village--don't think this one will go anywhere anytime soon.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My little helper :)

This morning I had my kids and one on one aides over for baking Valentine's cookies. It was a great exercise in practicing reading comprehension and following directions. They were split into 3 groups; the frosting group, mixing group and the rolling and cutting group. All worked well together :)

We had a decorated box outside the classroom for kids to place their Valentine's in. I received many cards, and I now see how valuable a handmade card can be versus a store bought card. The kids put much time and thought into some of the cards.

The weather continues to be cold. Currently, the acutal temp is -14 with a windchill of -35 F. They've been having some problems with the village generators, run by TCSA. They froze up for a few days over Christmas break, this week they were off for about 3 hours due to a leak. Last night the power was off 3 times for 10-20 min. each time....perhaps it's time to look more closely at the maintainance or replacement of the village generators? :)

The guys finished the sewer lines a couple weeks ago, and I now have a flushing toilet!! WHO HOO!! (I know, simple pleasures ;) I appreciate all the time the guys put in during the cold wet weather. They deserve a raise :) Soon, (if things thaw out) we will have water running into the older teacher houses (mine included) so all we need to do to fill our water tank is turn on a valve. Frank has seen to many improvements in housing during his time as Site Administrator.

Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! :)

Christmas with the Family

Beautiful trees!! Taken as we were driving out the driveway, headed back to the airport.

A little behind the times getting pics posted....but here are some from our family Christmas. Lance and Rachel
Dad and Mom
Grams
Jonas and GlenThe table....Mom got roses from Dad :)
Glen--trying to figure out some computer gizmo for his truck.

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.

School Christmas Program

Well...today was our first day back to work, and now it's time to play catch up with my blog.

On December 19th we had our school Christmas program, I was in charge of organizing/planning. I could not have done it without Kat, Georgette, and Lisa...all huge helps.

The program went well and I think all had fun.

Something to ponder...

A Message by George Carlin:
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.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

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.

Trip to Bethel with the girls :)

The ladies and I went to Bethel on Friday morning. Around 9:30 I received a phone call that the plane would be here in about 3o minutes. We loaded up our bags, got Rocky over to Kat's and headed down to the airport in the "airport shuttle" aka the four wheeler, trailer and our excellent driver Iain. We waited for our plane until around 10 am. Needless to say our feet were more than a bit cold by that point in time :) We kept ourselves entertained with Angie's Catch phrase game. It was a much needed and very welcome get away :)

Pam and Angie on the ride to the airport

Kat hanging on as we encountered the drift covered boardwalk. :) headed for the airport.

The sky around 10 am 11/23/07--also notice Nick driving ahead with the snow go to make sure we didn't get stuck with the four wheeler.

Pam, Marie and Kat...waiting for the plane :)

Pam and Angie waiting at the Tunt airport: Pam's trying to warm Angie's feet.

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)

Loading all our stuff at the Hageland terminal....will we be under the 1200lb limit????

Iain and Angie loading our stuff into the trailer when we landed...home sweet home :)
The moon above the river when we landed in Tunt around 4 pm 11/24/07

I splurged and bought a pair of slippers at the craft fair this year :) thus far it's been a worthwhile purchase. :)

Kat and Angie in the well loaded car
Bentley's....our second home when we travel to Bethel.

The view out the window while we ate our lunch at Yolanda's; we had a beautiful day to drive around Bethel.

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

The View from my back steps--simply gorgeous!!

The view out my bedroom window
The small snowdrift in my house :)

Cooking--she is making a letter "E" while tearing up angel food cake for supper.

Supper at Marie's House- The kids worked hard and 20 of them came over for Hamburgers, French Fries, Juice, mixed berries and strawberry angel food desert

Carving our Class Pumpkin--The kids were so focused and did a great job :)