I did not know my own father very well because he died when I was 10 years old. He picked my name when I was born. My first memory is following him into the field by our house when I was about 3 years old. When I was about 8 years old, I remember sitting on his lap and combing his hair. He was balding and he had this long bit of hair he would comb over the bald spot. I think I was his special girl since I was his firstborn. He worked away from home during the week most of the time so was home only on weekends so that limited the time I got to spend with him. I missed him greatly after he died. He was a good father.
My husband has been a wonderful father to our children and they have been blessed to have him into their adulthoods. He loves them so much and his thoughts are always of them and wanting to bless them. He has made my life blessed in helping me raise these four children into adults we are so proud of. Happy father’s day, Bruce.
Today we celebrate the 33rd birthday of our firstborn. We didn’t know what the future held but we eagerly awaited the arrival of matthew bruce edwards on January 8, 1975. He has been such a blessing in our family and I’m very proud of him and love him very much.
Matt, enjoy your day!!!
Surrounded by fog, ice, mist. The day has been peaceful after the previous day of cooking, cleaning and enjoying company for dinner. I felt peace yesterday also even in the business. Life so often has a way of turning into a tumultuous storm without warning so I’m enjoying this quiet interlude.
Sorry to hear about the moose. Poor little Alaskan guy. I’m glad the vehicle occupants were unhurt.
God has been stirring my heart lately about Africa. I just read West with the Wind about a contemporary of the Out of Africa author. Beryl Markham was born in England but raised in Kenya. She became the first woman pilot to fly the Atlantic from England to Novia Scotia. She wrote a beautiful piece that evoked my nostalgic memories of Kenya. Does God have Africa in my future? I don’t know and I don’t have any definite plans right now but have exploring the possibility of next fall going to Liberia to work again with Amani (peace).
Our little kitties won’t leave the Christmas decorations alone. I’ve had to remove fake Christmas tree leaves from Pseudo’s teeth twice yesterday so finally just put the wreath away. We didn’t even put the tree up this year so they are after the wreath. He thinks it is grass which he loves. The leaf gets stuck on his tooth when he bites down on it and he can’t get it off. He came to me and pointed at his mouth with his paw to show that he needed help.
Missing my loved ones.
I’ve been home several days and am getting settled. It takes me a while to do the laundry and put everything away. I don’t have any reason to rush so have taken time to sit a while to knit and catch up on all the mail. It took me a whole day to do the bank and bills stuff. Our bank just changed over so I had to make a trip to town to set up what type of account we want and choose the freebies like free checks in the mail and free overdraft protection. All of this has not been very interesting but needed to be done.
Now, our neighborhood is getting two new homes built this fall. We woke up to dump trucks going back and forth to spread the dirt that was dug from the basement along the empty lots near us. I look forward to watching them being built and seeing what the new homeowners choose for things like lights, cabinets, countertops and floor covering.
I went to my Bible study today. We’re starting a new one on John. I think I will like this one a lot better than the last. I just miss meeting with the ladies. We have been a group for seven years and have shared a lot with each other about our lives and what we have all gone through. We haven’t met since last spring so I have missed them.
Still remembering Alaska days and the peacefulness of Willow. I’m glad to be home with husband and cats. We have a home group dinner tomorrow evening. I’m making two kinds of soup and scones.
Nertz and Golf have been played a lot by Mary and I nightly. I keep winning and she spazes in disbelief.
Also, been enjoying No Bake cookies and comedy shows on tv tonight.
I love the fire place, even though I know it’s messy; I like real fires.
Besides that, I finished the DC quilt once and for all today. It was a huge accomplishment, and I’m so glad Mary loves it so much. She said, just by looking at it, she’s completely inspired to get her DC book moving once the first snowflake falls.
I also finished my felted purse, and after washing it twice it’s at the right size. Now I’m just waiting the time out for Bruce to get here Saturday with a bit of schall knitting (Mary says to type, “does anyone remember Johnna Schall?”)
YAHOO FOR BRUCE!
My daughter and son-in-law with their new wall hanging!
Today started off wonderfully with omelets and blueberry pancakes from chef a la Casey!
After going to church an hour early, due to a winter start time change, we came home and napped a bit. Then Mary and I had a really nice long walk down their property and to the creek. It was a beautifully sunny, fall day and the dogs loved the little adventure too.
We thought of Pat and everyone, wishing we could be there with them all. We prayed and rested in the Lord trying to comprehend it.
Once we got back from the walk, Casey drove us to the Talkeetna Lodge where Mt. McKinley is displayed way off in the distance with meadows, forests, and rivers spanning the horizon. We had a nice little dinner of halibut quesadilla, reindeer chilli, and buffaloe wings at the lodge.
After a nice, relaxing fall day and now with warm tea in my lap, it has been a cozy, fun filled day here in Alaska.
Being in a beautiful setting makes me reflective. I am in a retreatlike mode here in Alaska. I drove into Wasilla on Tuesday and marvelled at the beauty all around. The trees are changing color and surrounding mountains make me feel small but still a part of this wonderful creation. When I was 10 years old I lost my father and the whole rest of my life has been infected with the fear of losing someone I love. Oh, there are bouts of the fear for my own life but I worry more about losing those around me. Sorrow and grief are hard and I am so thankful that I have a faith to sustain me and to give me hope that there is more than this life. I had a hard time sleeping last night which was during the time Pat passed on to his eternity. I got up and looked out the window at the brilliant stars above. Pat has finished his hard part in life but we remain to grieve for now. My prayers are with you, loved ones.
Just trying to post some current pictures - more to come!
It was a beautiful sunlit day, not cold, and the mountains reminded me of the Scottish Highlands!
The roads were bad like Kenya, but it was fun to see the berry pickers, and it was worth it to say, “I crossed over Hatcher Pass entirely.” Oh, and at the top there was a glacial pool and some grand vistas and a lookout to snap pictures.
This morning the doggies decided to sprint out the “left open” garage door and be gone for 2-3 hours. I called them a few times, and they finally came back and collapsed in the back yard the rest of the day.
As for me, I went to work on a cheapy sewing machine that finally ended up doing an okay job on Mary’s DC tshirt quilt. The quilt looks great so far! It’ll have 4 rows of many different shaped shirt cuttings - all pertaining to DC bball and other sports. Mary is especially excited about the couple tennis shirt sitings throughout the quilt, and she wanted me to mention that.
Tomorrow we’ll get more juice excitement, some odds and ends that I am helping Mary take care of (buttons, hanging sticks, etc.), and we’ll get the backing fabric and batting for the DC quilt.
I am having fun with Mary and Casey and the quilt even though it wore me out with fixing the machine all morning! Hope your days are going well.
