It's hard to believe that we've been home so many weeks already... and yet it feels like we're just settling right back into life in Alaska... we have been blessed to find an amazing home church... the kids LOVE going and just can't wait to go back each week! They are making some great friends and enjoying some of the many activities Alaska has to offer.
Tonia has started horseback riding lessons in preparation to join up with a 4H group here. Her first week the poor teacher was mortified when her horses freaked out when something hit the barn and spooked them into a canter across the indoor arena... Tonia managed to keep her seat until the horse stopped, then she went down... but it didn't phase her a bit. The teacher says she has a natural grace about her which will serve her well... :) (K... done bragging now).
Joziah is joining boy scouts, which he is super excited about... the other boys are still deciding on their activities... I think Brian is gonna do some sort of shooting club, but we'll see.
I would post pictures of our latest adventures, but sadly we left our camera sitting on a shelf in Manila... thankfully the person whose house we left it at will be coming to the US this summer, so can bring it then... but until then... :( No pictures!
Job hunting has begun in earnest this week... so pray that the right job comes along... :) Thanks and God bless!

ALASKA

We arrived safe and sound in Alaska! We were greeted by sub zero temps and then within a couple days... SNOW! BRRR!!! Thankfully we were met at the airport w/ winter jackets and warmed up vehicles!
We have 'recooped' a bit as far as jet lag, though we got the winter 'colds' to go with our arrival... blah... but we are loving the big house to run and play in, the kids are loving playing outside in the snow (mom skips out on that part)... our tummies took a bit to adjust to the American diet, but we are slowly adjusting... tonights dinner... salmon, potatoes and corn!! YUM!! Our friends were so kind to stock our freezer, fridge and pantry before we came home. We have enough meat to last a month or more!! Ah... PROTEIN!
We have been busy setting up all the necessary accounts, and getting all the fun 'paperwork' and business stuff done that we've been putting off for waaay too long!
Joe interviewed for a job the day after arriving home, we are praying that he gets it as the schedule would be sweet for everyone... but like all security/cop jobs... the hiring process takes a looonngg time since they have to make sure you're as clean as a whistle...
Anyway... I met w/ a midwife here in our city and was able to listen to the little peanut growing and bouncing around inside... I hadn't been able to hear the heartbeat on my doppler cause it went caput... Anyway, it's always nice to hear the little gallop of the heartbeat of the miracle taking place inside of you..... I forgot to how much I MISSED American midwifery... I LOVE the personal time/care midwives give you...
There of course is always much, much more... and I wanted to finally post pictures, but unfortunately we seemed to have left our camera at our friends in Manila! Grrr... There have been many emotional ups and downs to moving back to the US, lots of soul searching and all that fun stuff... but lots of just being blessed by those around us... the kids came out of sunday school on Sunday SO EXCITED about their lessons, about the activities, etc... they couldn't stop talking about it and begged us to go back to that church so they could go again. It may seem trivial... but when you've been attending home church, or village church for so long... it was so refreshing.
Well, time to see what Joe is whipping up in the kitchen (he's an amazing cook!) :P
Thank you again for all your prayers and support.