Springing Forth and Celebrating

Happy Spring to All of Our Family & Friends!

First Week of Spring 2016!

I think most folks enjoy that first leap into spring, minus the whole losing an hour.  Losing that hour represents a gain in other coveted areas, so the loss isn't quite as profound as it otherwise might be.  It represents the "beginning" of gardening season in the southeast; longer evening twilight hours; warmer temperatures; a return to "life" of our hibernating friends; and the occasional taunt of lake trout.  It is the pre-season of beach-combers, who hastily make their way to the Carolina beaches to ready their condos and beach homes for some hard-core use throughout the summer months.

Even here in Alaska, where daylight savings time makes absolutely NO sense (I mean we are the Land of the Midnight Sun for crying out loud), we, too, are embracing spring.

Springtime Pick-up Football Game in Alaska -- where we encourage "playing in the road!"

Scouting Moose Sheds on our Daily Dog Walks

Losing an hour seems to mean nothing, as we prepare to take on summer in all its glory.  You see, we have been gaining daylight since December 21, at a rate of about 4-7 minutes per day.  The only difference for us springing forward is that it is still light out at 9:20 p.m. already, and we are all trying to prepare our bodies for no sleep again until September!  Well that, and the fact that we got 5-7 inches of new snowfall during the first weekend of "Spring."  So instead of watching the blooming of the Bradford Pear trees, spring lilies, lilacs, and daisies, we were watching the snow machiners trek into the Alaskan wilderness for one last "hoorah" before storing their winter toys away.

Getting Ready for Spring at the Outdoorsman Show

We attended the annual Outdoors Show and priced gun belts, fishing rods, filet knives, canoes, and life vests.  Then Madison and I are "chicced" it up at the Alaska Chicks Vintage Show, amazed at the over-pricedness (is that even a word?), but eclectic and creative works of local vendors and artists.  She came away with a fabulous, and reasonable, find.  I came away with stolen ideas for future crafts!  What some creative souls can do with junked cars and dictionary pages is unbelievable!  And we are watching, with great anticipation, the passing of yet another season into our historical lives.

That last part seems to be the most fitting for us.  Ethan has been studying genealogies this year in Social Studies.  At Christmas, we were able to trace Grandma Bradley's people back to the 1100s (we think), which means we must send thanks to the work of so many others that help preserve the pieces of our history.  A few weeks ago, we unearthed that we are distantly related to the Braun Family of the famous Old Stone House in Granite Quarry (many thanks to the late Mary Beaver and Blanche Beaver for those efforts).  It seems that at some point in all of our lives, the question "Where did we come from?" begins to resonate as we ponder our own existence. Imagine the choices, both good and bad, that had to occur in all of the lives of your ancestors for you to be here -- at this very moment in time.  As we let that boggle our minds for a few minutes, Ethan very astutely said, "I'm glad I believe God has a plan for me."  Yes!  God has a plan for each of us; and even through the best of decisions and poorest of decisions, there is a Creator who is orchestrating this mess that we call "life" to bring us to this place in time.  The book of Revelation, chapter four, records a marvelous sight around the throne of God, as the elders that are there give us a peek into our very existence: "...Thou (God) hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."  Talk about having a sense of purpose!  In this new season, we lovingly challenge you (and we are trying to take the challenge as well) to embrace everything that He has called you to -- being a pleasure for Him.

Sunrise Over the Foggy Valley, March 2016

Wishing you a wonderful spring season!
Hopefully next blog, the ice will have melted off the lakes and ponds;
and we will be canoe-bound!
All Our Love!