Fair Weather Days

First Dusting in the Valley Chugach Mountains, August 2015
Close to Pioneer Peak

Full moons, aurora borealis, chilly mornings, frost warnings, cooler fingers, toes, and noses during brisk walks...ahhh...fall is here, and we are excited to be breaking out our thermals, wool socks, and sweaters.  Nothing seems cozier than bundling up in a blanket first thing in the morning, wrapping your cool fingers around a warm mug of your favorite coffee, and doing devotions as the sun comes up!  For many of us, those coveted first few minutes in the morning are all we have alone all day to collect ourselves for the challenges of the day!  I am grateful for those quiet moments, and I have decided recently not to ruin them by checking the daily weather before the sun rises.  Now...as the sun says, "Hello," or decides whether or not it wants to go back to bed, it's a wonderful surprise either way!

Ahtna has decided that while she likes the afternoon temperatures hovering in the 40s-50s, she is not too keen on cooler-than-that temps for her early morning potty break!  Neither are we!  We are already debating about how best to handle it once the temperatures truly dip and there is quite a bit of snow on the ground.  She is trained to go to our entry level door; however, once the frost hits, our entry level exterior front stairs become hazardous to our health.  Michael took a tumble down them last season that knocked him out cold briefly.  We don't care to have a repeat of that -- for us or for the dog!  So, we are thinking that we will begin re-training her now to use the basement door.  She's not used to that door and is actually scared to go out of it.  It's comical and sad to watch her try to navigate that threshold.  It isn't scary in the least bit, but it isn't what she's used to, so I guess that makes it scary.  Now that I think about it, dogs may not be too different from us in that regard -- we like the familiar, and the unknown -- even if for our own good -- can be intimidating.

AK State Fair Parking Beneath Pioneer Peak, 2015

Ethan learned that lesson a bit this past week, too.  You see, not only is it fall, but the last week of August and the first week of September mark the timing of the Alaska State Fair in Palmer.  I mentioned in earlier blogs that Ethan would be entering some events at the Fair; and he entered three pieces of art and the kids' cookie contest.  He absolutely hates it when I enter him (or volunteer him to enter) any type of contest -- even though the end result usually outweighs the angst.  Whether it's writing, poetry. art, (or in this case cookies!)...well, let's just say most of the time he is less than enthused.  Regardless of his enthusiasm level, though, he is obedient and he tries his best.

Moose in Fall

"Magua"
Last of the Mohicans

This year, he was blessed with two third place ribbons for a watercolor and a pencil sketch, and a 2nd place finish in the cookie contest!  And it was the cookie contest that taught us both all sorts of lessons!

We have to send a shout out to Abbie Hoehman right off the bat.  Abbie is a cookie maker, and has historically made each member of our family cookies for our birthdays.  She is very protective of her recipe, not even giving it to me when we moved from North Carolina to Alaska!  And I begged her!  Well, thankfully, she gave it to Ethan, and told him the "secret" extra goodness that should go into all things cookie! He made cookies a couple of times before the fair, tweaking it as he went, until we devoured the last batch in less than 24 hours, and he knew he had the recipe "right."  The trick is...let the finished cookies sit in an airtight container for 1 day -- if you can!  So...with the cookie contest on Friday night, Thursday saw him baking what he has dubbed as "Best Friend Cookies."  As he prepared his plate for judging Friday afternoon, his buddy Brody came by to play.  Ethan explained that we were headed to the fair for the contest, and Brody became the "test" subject.  At first, he didn't want to eat the cookie because he wasn't sure what it was; but after one, he said, "Go ask your mom if I can have another!"  That made Ethan smile, and he was excited to give their family a small Ziploc bag full of cookies.  Then off to the fair we went!

As we made our way from the parking lot to the Hoskins Building for entry, we couldn't decide if we wanted to eat fair food for dinner or not.  The smells were amazing, but after reading signs like "Peanut Potatoes," "Crab Cake Corner," and "Donut Burger" (yes...it's exactly that...donut, burger, egg and bacon...) our bellies were screaming, "No, don't do it! Don't eat anything!"  We made it to the Hoskins exhibit hall unscathed and headed for the entry table.  The ladies at the table were super sweet, and have probably been helping at the fair since its inception.  Ethan was rather excited until he heard one lady say, "We've NEVER had this many entries! It must be a record!"  Promise and deliver cash prizes, and they will come...

Giant Cabbage 107+ pounds

45 entries later...three poor judges would be on the verge of a sugar coma and disappointing 44 children ages 5-12.  That had to be so difficult, and Ethan and I talked about it for nearly three hours until the judging.  We did manage to find solace from our rumbly tummies (and his nervous butterflies) by visiting the Barn and watching the Lumberjack Show.  The barn boasts every sort of show animal imaginable, a petting zoo, and all of the Fair's giant entries.  We look for the cabbage every year, and this year, the giant cabbage weighed in at over 107 pounds!  The Lumberjack Show is also one of our favorites, and it may very well become a Martin Family Fair tradition.  They perform their feats of strength all over the country, but I would venture to say that most of those other views can't rival their set-up in Palmer.  After the Lumberjack Show we made our way back to Hoskins for the final judging.

Lumberjack Show 2015

It took those poor judges more than an hour to sample all of those cookies and tally the scores.  Given some of the presentations on some of those plates, I think Ethan had resigned himself to the thought that this was an ok venture, and, if nothing else, we would have six extra cookies to eat. Imagine his surprise when they called his name as the 2nd place entry!  Another young fella took first and there was a male honorable mention.  A young lady took third place.  I overheard a woman say, "That says alot about our society today!"  I don't know that too much societal knowledge can be drawn from one cookie contest -- particularly since those boys probably ate as many cookies as they prepared! That's what happened in my household anyway!  I think what surprised Ethan about the experience the most was his uncertainty about how to feel during the prize announcements.  He put alot of work into those cookies, and he was proud of his effort and winning.  However, because of where they had the winners stand, he saw the disappointed faces of all of those other youngsters.  He even saw one little fella burst into tears.  We've had LOTS of discussions about that scene after the fact.  Because unlike most other extra curricular activities, everyone did not get a prize.  They didn't get stickers, ribbons, or certificates of participation; and, it was disappointing. And it was real. And it was difficult.  And it was life.

2015 C & H Sugar Kids' Cookie Contest

We are learning that in the midst of triumph, there may be pain -- pain we cannot help and pain we cannot control.  The best we can hope to achieve (and not even through our own power, but with the Lord's help) is humility -- in times of winning and in times of losing.

To help ease some of the burden Ethan was bearing for the remaining contestants, Michael took us into Anchorage on Sunday afternoon after church.  We ran a few errands, then took a detour (he's famous for those!) onto Arctic Boulevard close to the Joint Base of Elmendorf and Richardson (JBER).  The Base Ski Hill was close by, but we didn't have to make it all the way to the top to feel as if we were the only family there.  At a pull-off halfway up the mountain, the Kenai Range served as the perfect backdrop to the view of City Center.  And although you can't see it in the photo, Denali was out to the north.  It is said that on clearer days, you can see three of the volcanoes that surrounds Anchorage, but we couldn't make them out on this trip.

Anchorage City Center (Far Left)
Kenai Mountains in the Distance

Needless to say, it was a calming reminder of the love and protection our heavenly Father has for us. And whether we are happy or sad, successful or needing to work a little harder, the events of our lives are filtered through His loving hands.  We just need to truly see others along our own journeys. Realizing that made all this week's trials and triumphs worth it.

Rains Descending on the Valley
August 2015

As we look forward to another week, we ask you to keep our children in your prayers. Alex and Madison are finalizing plans, seeking housing, and readying for all of the changes that come with marriage.  Andrew is back at Lee with a full class load, serving as a teaching assistant, and seeking additional income opportunities to help with college costs.  We are praying for wisdom and peace for them all.

Missing you, thinking of you, and praying for you!  All Our Love!

The Martin Family

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Be of the same mind, one toward another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits." Romans 12:15-16