Making Way for Babies

April 13, 2015
Alaska State Fairgrounds

While the weather here has decided that winter needs a final sputter, spring seems to have officially "sprung" for all of our friends and family...and with the springing, new life begins and babies abound!  We are exceptionally excited for this week's posting, as Baby Jackson Beaver is scheduled to make his debut in North Carolina no later than Thursday or Friday of this week.

We are hoping for Thursday since Aunt Ruthie will be induced that day,
and more than 24 hours in labor isn't pleasant for anyone!

As a "big sister" it is difficult to imagine my "baby" brother as a husband and father...and yet, here we are.  When did we grow up? Wasn't it just yesterday that he was shoving peas up his own nose?  Wait, yes...it was just yesterday his middle school students would attest -- haha!  It's so funny to remember our antics growing up and now to imagine him as a daddy -- the protector and leader of his family!  I am so proud of the Godly man he has become; and I praise the Lord daily for bringing him such a sweet bride.  They will be great parents, and now we all anxiously wait...

Ethan and Ahtna

Back here in Alaska, we are also excited about another arrival that occurred Easter morning.  Little Ahtna was born as one of eight puppies in a new litter to Mama Jamie of Alaska Labradors in Wasilla. We met her for the first time today.  What a surprise for Ethan!  Poor fella...he's been taking standardized tests for the state of Alaska since Friday of last week.  Science was first, then Math yesterday, followed by English today.  Sadly Alaska has adopted Common Core as its "standard," so the math and English tests are newly written this year and serve as the baseline for future testing of homeschooled students receiving subsidized dollars for education.  After all that testing we were excited to surprise Ethan with a trip to the breeders.  He kept begging to "just go home" because he was so tired (we've been up before 6:00 daily to make it on time to testing)!  The breeder's home was on the way home, and it wasn't until we got to the "puppy shed" and he heard the whining and saw Mr. Ron's Alaska Labrador Sweatshirt that it finally dawned on him where we were.  He nearly danced all the way through the puppy shed.

Mr. Ron's family is a rather large one, and all of his children are homeschooled.   I can't even begin to describe how many dogs they must have, but there are currently three litters from which to choose a new family member.  A previous set of pups was ready today, but the other pups won't be ready to go to their new homes until May 9, 16, and 23rd.  He introduced us to those litters, and Ethan (and Michael!) fell in love with this beautiful rollie-pollie after she left my arms, of course.  We had decided on a name several weeks ago in honor of a nearby mountain range.  Baby Jackson joins Matt and Ruth on Thursday-Friday, and Baby Ahtna will join us in late May.  So many changes, and yet such joy!

Babies aside, most of our attention has been turned weather-ward.  Our days prior to Easter were spent readying the garden plots for planting, but we have been employed most recently with observing the odd weather phenomena.  We watched the blood moon, which truly did look red.  Although the pictures definitely do not do it justice, it was an amazing evening of gazing heavenward!

Blood Moon Eclipse Begins

Blood Moon April 2015

After that, it hailed here for three days in a row, then warmed up again. At the end of last week, it was d-r-y in Wasilla, but by the time we got to the fairgrounds in Palmer on Friday, there were at least three inches of fresh snowfall.  We like the snowfall in the midst of spring, however. Spring here is not like spring in the Lower 48.  With all of the melting snow, everything "breaks up" and turns to muck, guck, and gross. The trash that has fallen from (or been thrown from) vehicles all winter litters the medians, shoulders, and roadways.  We know the fresh snowfall covers it only momentarily, but a new snow sure makes everything seem pure and clean again.  Reliving that part of our Alaskan experience has given "literal" meaning to being "washed whiter than snow."

State Fairgrounds Beneath Pioneer Peak

In the midst of all of that, we have been trying to clean up our yard when we can, without getting mired in muck.  To that end, the boys have established a ceremonial "burn pile" that has already gotten its first use of the season.  We anticipate hopefully sitting around the fire next week or the week after when the File family reaches our humble home.  Nothing says welcome to Alaska like fresh snow, some mud, and some fire!  I always have enjoyed that wood smoke smell!

First Fire of the 2015 Season

In other news, our church held its Spring Fling this past Friday, and Ethan and I ran the fishing booth.  Michael had to work Thursday and Friday, so Ethan and I were charged with set-up, manning, and clean-up.  It was so reminiscent of Fall Festival that I cried, literally...LOTS of tears -- missing all of my students, family, and friends at Rockwell.  It was the first time I had occasion to go into the gymnasium that is attached to the school.  It reminded me so much of the Charger home court (complete with new floor and unfinished loft), that I took one step in and burst into tears!  Ethan was precious and understood my tears, and we talked about how we could make the fishing booth better for next year and how we should recommend a "Paul and Silas" jail to this crew!

The Fishing Booth was a VERY popular booth - probably because of the tremendous amounts of sugar we loaded those youngsters up with!  But at least we weren't giving away live animals! That was at another booth -- haha!  No rabbits, but live fish!  Ethan served as "the fish" behind the curtain of water, and I was the one fortunate enough to try to teach all those young ones how to "cast a line" and yell "fish on!" when they got a "bite."  When they realized they were fishing for goodie bags, we had a line for the full two hours!  We were exhausted, but we had great fun!

"Regular" school is on tap for tomorrow, then we will be field tripping it into Anchorage a couple of days this week to watch the Native Youth Olympics!  So much to do, and now we only have sunlight from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.  Missing you all and looking forward to updating you on our (and others') great adventures!

Ethan's Garden Plot