JUST TO MAKE YOU SMILE...

Observations on Growing Older  ~Your kids are becoming you...and you don't like them ...but your grandchildren are perfect! ~Going out is good. Coming home is better! ~When people say you look "Great"... they add "for your age!" ~When you needed the discount you paid full price. Now you get discounts on everything ... movies, hotels, flights, but you're too tired to use them. ~You forget names ... but it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!! ~The 5 pounds you wanted to lose is now 15, and you have a better chance of losing your keys than the 15 pounds. ~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything .... especially golf.. ~Your husband is counting on you to remember things you don't remember. ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.. ~Your husband sleeps better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than he does in bed. It's called his "pre-sleep". ~Remember when your mother said "Wear clean underwear in case you GET in an accident"? Now you bring clean underwear in case you HAVE an accident!  ~You used to say, "I hope my kids GET married ... Now, "I hope they STAY married!" ~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.. ~When GOOGLE, ipod, email, modem ... were unheard of, and a mouse was something that made you climb on a table. ~You used to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"  ??? ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~Your husband has a night out with the guys but he's home by 9:00 P.M. ...next week it will be 8:30 P.M. ~You read 100 pages into a book before you realize you've read it.. ~Notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!! ~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers. ~Now that your husband has retired .... you'd give anything if he'd find a job! ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet .... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~~~But old is good in some things: old songs old movies And best of all OLD FRIENDS!! Love you, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!

FOR MY SPANISH SPEAKING FRIENDS WHO ADORE MAFALDA...

Cariños para todos     Plata en los cabellos. Oro en los dientes. Piedras en los riñones.   Azúcar en la sangre Plomo en los pies. Hierro en las articulaciones.  Y una fuente inagotable de Gas Natural.  ¡¡¡¡Nunca se pensó que a partir de los 50 se pudiera llegar a tener  tanta riqueza!!!!

THE LAND CONVENTION IS ALMOST OVER....

Hi all,

The day before convention, a warm wind came up and warmed everything.  We had 16° weather for two days!  Last night the temperature dropped to 0°, and now it is -12°.

We can thank the Lord for nice weather, fer sure!!! Some of the FM is getting aged and I am sure they appreciate these warmer temps...in the past we have had -20 and even lower. I remember a convention when it was -50....made for very diff. comings and goings from our respective dwelling to the church hall.

I think we have more people but less ministry for some reason.

Bro Joe hasn’t graced our convention yet.  I think he is showing up today; maybe he will preach today. Today is his last chance, he usually takes a block of time to give his teaching at CLC...across the river.

Tonight we are having a prime rib dinner prepared by the men and young men for those of us who live here.  It should be good.

Last night we had a young people’s get together with Bro Raymond and Bro Dick Kunz.  We played games until we were too tired to move, then we had a few tender moments of “confirming” each other (saying encouraging things to the one in the center and all they can say back is, “thank you”).  We only got through about half the kids because it was getting too late. 

Robin is having a grand time greeting all the new faces and he posts himself at the entrance to be our official hand shaker...'course folks are very long-suffering and still answer him when he has already greeted them the day before....thanks to everybody who are being sports to follow his game...He has been amazingly contained and well behaved at church and meetings go as long as 3 hrs. before a meal...I guess he's growing up...like he is wont to remind me often  :)

Well May is out of Ireland after her 3 month stay there and now is in the UK for the month of February and then will spend March in Spain with my sister Karenza who lives in Gibraltar. Karenza is organizing a family reunion in Spain with my stepmomother and other sisters, from Argentina and  Missouri as well as their kids and grandkids...a grand reunion which I will, sadly, miss. 

Talked to May at my cousin Carol's in Suffolk (UK), missed the timing and called her on a Sunday when she was still in bed...so not very coherent...but we'll talk again soon. She is having a grand time and will be going to see the sites and the rest of the family (I believe I have like 8 or 9 cousins in the UK)....My sister Karenza got a great package deal for herself and May to spend 5 days in Italy after her month in Spain....anyhoo...fun for her....glad she is getting this chance. A blessing from God for a very nice girl...thankyou Lord...

PatLou passed his certification tests and is now a bonified certified ambulance river. He is very impressed with the EMS/Fire station in Wasilla. The EMS Tok people call it "Central 6-1" so I guess it is kind of a "state of the art" place with a very nice hospital and clinic. We all feel that this will be a great learning experience for him, and something that will point him in the right direction for a lifetime career..

He plans to work until the fall and then start his UAA training in Fire Science. GOD SPEED PAT...WE'RE ALL PROUD OF YA!!

Well need to get ready for the last day of conventin...will write again soon.

Have a great day and God bless!

gri

Passing the Purple Hat to you

Passing the Purple Hat to you

To all the beautiful women I love

and

In memory of all the beautiful friends I've lost

WE must experience our weakness to experience Gods strength....

     

 
 
    
 
    
           
           
   
Passing  the Purple Hat to You
IN honor of women's  history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her  fight with cancer.

Pass this on to  five women that you want watched  over.

If you don't know  five women to pass this on to, one will do just  fine.

 
IF I HAD MY LIFE  TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written  after she found out she was dying from  cancer).

I would have  gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the  earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there  for the  day.
  
I  would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose  before it melted in  storage.
  
I  would have talked less and listened  more.
  
I  would have invited friends over to dinner even if the  carpet was stained, or the sofa  faded.
  
I  would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room  and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted  to light a fire in the  fireplace.
  
I  would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather  ramble about his  youth.
  
I  would have shared more of the responsibility carried by  my  husband.
  
I  would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up  on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and  sprayed.
  
I  would have sat on the lawn with my grass  stains.

I would have  cried and laughed less while watching television and  more while watching  life.
  
I  would never have bought anything just because it was  practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last  a  lifetime..
  
Instead  of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have  cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment  growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist  God in a miracle.

When my kids  kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later.  Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been  more 'I love you's' More 'I'm  sorry's.'

But mostly, given another  shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and  really see it . .  live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL  STUFF!!!

Don't  worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's  doing what
Instead, let's cherish  the relationships we have with those who do love  us.



If you don't  mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to  have as friends.

Maybe we should  all grab that purple hat earlier.

Please send this  to five phenomenal women today in celebration of  Beautiful Women's Month.

If you do,  something good will happen--you will  boost another  woman's self  esteem.           

KEEP IT  LIT!  

IN  MEMORY .. . .. . ...

These are  the colours that represent the different  cancers.



All you  are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it's  to one more person, in memory of anyone you know who has  been struck by cancer.

A Candle  Loses Nothing by Lighting Another  Candle.

Please  Keep The Candle Going!

This one I do  ask that you please send  on.  

By sending  this on, you  will think and realize how you've been  blessed, up until  now.

This is a  disease which affects all families... no one is  exempt!

winter noos...

Hello.  


Got Rob a blaze orange jacket so I can spot him in the snow as he roams around...haha


We’ve had some mild temperatures for the last couple of days ranging from -14° to 0°.  We received 3 or 4 inches of snow in the last day.  Everything is simply beautiful outside - between the snow on top of everything and the frost on the bottom of everything. 

Sarah Jane, Andy, and Wenda are home from their Anchorage trip.  Sarah Jane’s heart procedure went very well.  She was out and about yesterday, very happy to be feeling better. 

The boys  three Jepsens, two Caseys, and Pat Lou – went out AGAIN last night.  This time they decided to snow shoe to Lisa Lake and stay in the cabin.  I’m fairly sure the Lake is completely frozen so no worries about them falling in that! 

Convention preparations are very much underway.  Cooking and cleaning, but mostly cooking, for hours on end. 

Rachel Trotter is taking some of the young people over to Whitestone today to attend one of their meetings. 

Garth came home yesterday.  I guess since he has the ministry close by, at Whitestone, he is relieved of his driving duties, mostly, till it’s time to go down to Haines.  Garth said the convention at Whitestone was anointed and personal.

Jon’s been working on putting an addition on their house for awhile now.  That is finally completed and Allyson has a new bedroom and the kids have more room.  I will have to go check it out one of these days.

Jim Mason has been living with Wendy and Tony while spending time fixing up the Milliron’s old house for him, Bonnie, and Bonnie’s mom.  I have yet to go see what he’s doing over there. Big Pat says the cabin is junk and needs alot of fixin...hopefully they can build something nicer when warm weather sets in. They are also bringing their aged relative to live here...hummmm...

Have a great Saturday – I should start cleaning and cooking for my clan.

May OK but looking fward to something diff. will celebrate her 20th. Jan 28th. and then off to UK for a month...and then, and then.....adventures abound...

blessings

tante gri

MAY'S REPORT ON SWITZERLAND....

Well Mom I am back from Switzerland.


I didn't get on a computer while I was over there so that is why I have not contacted you for the last four days. The trip was great Switzerland was not very cold but it was a bit overcast most of the time we were there but there was not much snow at all which was surprising. We actually travelled through four countries because we flew out of Dublin Fri. morning landed in Memmingen Germany and from their drove the scenic route through Germany into Austria and then into Switzerland.

It is a beautiful country and the openness and mountain reminded me of home. It is also a very orderly country the standard of living is very high. The cities are neat and well planned with many beautiful old buildings surrounded by newer ones. Their are allot of little villages built right into the side of the mountains with small compact log home all over the place. I also noticed that instead of just blasting a pass through the mountains to build a road on like at home, In Switzerland they build roads under and through the mountains by means of ingenious tunnels. It is really quite cool driving down the road towards a mountain and then going through it in a tunnel with other cars coming and going around you.


The first day we spent with Villy's parents at their home in the city. We also met Villy's sister and went to her flat because she had very kindly offered to let me and Miss Caroline use it while we were there. She had just had a baby about two months ago and we got to see and hold him he was very cute. The next day we spent visiting old friends of Villy's. George and Brigitte Kinenckly and Georges brother Peter and his wife Iris. As well as their son and his new wife that he brought over from America. I ate lots of good food, and good chocolate.

Sunday we went to Zurich and because Villy was feeling poorly he left me and Miss Caroline to look around Zurich alone. It wasn't too bad we had a map and stayed close to the central river and lake. We bought some little knickknacks and took pictures of some of the cool buildings went we had looked around for some hours and it was getting dark we bought a train ticket and drove to a town which was closer to Villy's parents house and he came and picked us up.


They next day we flew home that was yesterday. In all it was a great little trip and I had lots of fun. Glad to hear things are going good at home give my love to everyone.


Love you Mom.

random happenings...and thoughts...

Hi all.  Our severe temperatures from the last email only lasted through Monday.  We warmed up and have stayed pretty comfortable at -10° and -20°. 

Garth has left to chauffer the ministry from convention to convention.  The Wasilla convention is over, attended by approximately 40 people.  They have moved along to Sapa, and their convention will begin tomorrow. 

Andy and Wenda took Sarah Jane to Anchorage for a heart procedure that is supposed to alleviate her heart fibrillation troubles.  I think the procedure is tomorrow. 

Seth Jepsen, turns 18 tomorrow.  Now the Jepsen household has two 18 yr olds, (a cousin) one 19 yr old with a girlfriend, and a 15 yr old in the house.  Hmmm…. Makes life very interesting. My household has a 21 yo, a 19 yo (absent until end of Aug.) one 16 yo and a 12 yo going on 21...

Yesterday a pile of young people, the Basalygas, and others came out from Whitestone to play hockey and/or visit.  Supper was simply wild! Fajitas with tons of onions and peppers, our own beef, corn, some fizzy homemade juice which was kinda nice, and home made ice-cream on peach cobbler...the Tab was packed and wild! The kids visiting had like 3 long tables and Pat went and sat with them, Rob wanted to go but they wld not let him...poor guy! he gonna hv to learn the hard way that sometimes he is not welcome...

Jarred, Jennifer, and children are home from their New York trip.  Jennifer’s mom and dad came too and will be here till after our convention sometime.

BTW, our convention starts on Friday morning, the 29^th.  I don't think we wll be keeping anybody since we really do not have a comfortable extra room, and I am not up to giving up my own bed as we used to 15 years ago....need my sleep...haha

Oh, this morning, John and Robert Venebles came through on their way home to Haines.  They came up to visit family at Whitestone.  John and Rebekah Bailey made a surprise visit to Whitestone (they’ve been living in Ireland) so I guess that was the push behind the sudden visit.  We sent some of our many eggs to the Haines community.  We have plenty to spare since we’re getting like over 200 per day.  And, Kevin, Sarah J's wonderful nephew is now in charge of the chickens.  (He claims that he is busy training them to lay in the proper places, etc.)

Tommy and Jarred are taking the kids to play basket ball so I’m enjoying a few moments of quiet!

Pat has gotten an intern position in Wasilla as an EMT3.  He leaves next week for an indefenite period of time.

Last Friday night Seth, Kevin, Pat Lou, Joseph, and Peter decided to go snowshoeing after dark and across the River nearby.  They were going spend the night in a tent on the other side of the River in -17° weather.  Pat and Seth were out in front, leading the way when they fell through the overflow ice into some water.  Pat and Seth were waist deep or higher in water.  Kevin got wet too since he had a heavy pack that pulled him over when his snow shoe stuck under some ice.  They were fine, unbelievably, even though cold.  They somehow got out of their frozen clothes and proceeded to go eat their midnight snacks in Peter’s garage.  I’m very thankful that they are alive!  I guess it was thought at first that they had fallen into the river per se, but the older guys said next morning that if that had been the case they would not be alive, since the undercurrent in the river is so strong it would have washed them under the ice....next morning the kids went out to see where they had fallen and it was a big hole with overflow, quite deep but not in the river, just close to it....GOD PROTECTED THEM AND HAD SOME ANGELS WORKING OVERTIME...needless to say us mums did not sleep a wink after that!   well, at leas this mum didn't...

Have started something called REEDEEZ which is put out by a guy, a musician. It is simply lovely...hard to explain exactly uses some neurodevelopmental ND philosophy behind it...Rob loves it, the tunes are catchy and he just reads the type words that appear on the screen, a innovative method of teaching reading.

He is coming along with his typing and writing his short paragraphs...definitely a computer guy tho'...loves to work on his laptop....

Ok, time to clean my house!  Have a great week.  

snoshoe adventures and other noos.....

Hi all,



Trust y'all have had a good week. Mine was rather arduous for various school and family related reasons...but no matter...love FRIDAYS!!..

I have been enjoying going out in the early evenings on Pat's ski trail in the woods. It is really one of our hunting trails towards the plateau...where the guys go hunting.


This trail is in the general same direction as the hunting ground trail but shorter in a way. Also used by our neighbors as a trapping and mushing trail.


I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could use my snow shoes on it. Pat has packed it down pretty good since the beginning of the winter and so it doubles up very nicely for me, who am not a skier...


Some of the trail goes through open and quite solitary areas of spruce forest and brush. Nice to be in the great outdoors all bundled up and enjoying nature while getting a decent workout. Pat says I need to get some small bells to attach to my ski poles so I can make my presence known in the event I come upon a cow moose...hopefully that will not happen...since they can be rather unpredictable...

Here is a link to some pictures I took while out on the trail. I miscalculated on a couple of occasions and was overtaken by darkness, but my trusty led headlamp brought me back to camp. It takes me about 55' to get to what I call the "fish head"...and back home again. The fish head really is a fish head hanging by a string from a spruce branch...well what's left of it that is...don't know who put it there or why...but it's my marker to turn around and come back home...otherwise I would end up at the foothills of the mountains leading to what we call East Fork...the start of the guys hunting grounds.


Course Pat can do the same trail in about 37' but he's on skis so he can cheat by sliding along...while I just kinda plod along...


Good time for fellowshipping with God and praying out loud too.


May called and even talked to her brother Pat. She is still having a grand time, going to Switzerland with one of the couples there and then traveling to the UK to be with my cousins (I think I have about 10 of them from a couple of different aunts - my mother's sisters), she is pretty excited about meeting all of them. Some castle ruins are gonna be thrown into the bargain and she will be in heaven, being the medieval maiden that she is. 


Ironic to me, that May is mirroring my own visit to the UK, Dorset and the coast I made in 1973, when I got to meet my aunts and cousins.


Then after almost a month there, it's off to Spain, Seville, Toledo and Madrid with my sister Karenza who lives in Gibraltar. The family reunion on March, with my sister Marina and stepmom from Argentina, my sister Alexandra and her husband Don, their married kids with their spouses and babies...K has rented the Seville convention site for this occasion...so they can all be housed together there. A great and cheap arrangement. Only 20' away from the big city of Seville. They all are looking forward to meeting May, she has met some of my sisters and cousins but not all of them. K has promised her Toledo, another medieval city full of enchantments for someone like May.


Then K and her friend Gracia from Seville are throwing in a 4 day trip to Italy into the bargain...so May is in heaven...she will see so much and I am so thankful for this great chance for her. Totally unexpected...I see it as  God's provision for May, esp. financially...if anybody deserves something like this it is May...

Originally it was just a Blessington trip and now has turned out to be a 5 month adventure. She extended her ticket to the end of April. So we will not see her until then. Hope she takes tons of pics. So glad she got a nice Canon before she left.


PatLu applied for an EMT3 position in the Matsu borough and GOT IT! He is pretty happy about that, he will be heading out to take his post at the end of this month, in his little blue Subaru that he just got (rather long in the tooth but cld last if he takes care of it)...


Well...no more boring details of the Buongiornes. No farm noos of any import to report...so..."moosings" is signing off...


Have a great week end...I'm certainly looking forward to it!


g'night....


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