FROM MAY...

Hi to All,

Cousin Carol's daughter Rose and her husband live on a fully outfitted barge!...isn't that neat...?

I am in England now and will be for all of Feb. visiting relatives on my Mom's side which will take quite some time since she seems to be finding more relatives for me to meet.

I have met quite a few cousins and second cousins and cousins twice removed. So many in fact that I am beginning to lose track of them all.  am doing great. I am being shown around all over the place a meeting many new friends and family. Carol is great and so his her sister Eve and her husband and children. Every one has been amazing to me and have taken me many places. I have been having fun just being with them all.

So far I have been to two castles one in Framlingham and another in Orford.  They were both really cool.  Dick and Carol are really outdoorsy types and like to go on long walks to the beach or through the woods so I have enjoyed that.  I also have been inside quite a few town churches which are like really small versions of cathedrals and are all called saint this or saint that, its been really cool. 


I have also been to a few Sunday church services they are a little strange and still use all the Catholic pomp and ceremony but its interesting to watch and read all the special prayers and stuff that the congregation reads from their prearranged church schedule.  I have been to see Carol play in a little entertainment production and that was fun she is pretty good on the flute.  I have also had a chance to show allot of people your slide shows of the farm.  I showed a couple to the kids in Carols music class and they really got a kick out of everything and afterwards they asked me all sorts of questions it was a lot of fun.  I have been to see the sea quite a few times and stood on the ruins of an old fort.  I have walked through a few villages and have taken a few pictures of all the old buildings they are really interesting to look at.   I have met two of Carol and Dicks children so far, Rose and Tom and will be meeting more of them when I go to Dorset on the 13th with Carol.  The weather has not been very nice but I have been having fun anyway. 

I just had the best time ever at a park in Hampshire in England. It had a feature called Go Ape and I was able to swing high up in the trees on big zip lines and Flying Foxes it was great fun.

Miss you all very much...

May,

Floan Buongiorne, Grams, Grammy...

Here are some nice pics of my mother in law Floan Buongiorne...my kids grams...
Rob goes to her house twice a week on my laundry days...for some "quality Grams time"
...likes to tool down there on his bike when he can...I spent many years enjoying both my Italian grandmother andmy Welsh one...my mother shipped me off to their homes on opposite ends of the city of Buenos Aires and these times are some of my most prized childhood memories...

So thankful that my children have at least one grandmother to spoil them from time to time.

Pat built that cabin in the early 70's so that Floan and her twin daughters cld come and live here at the farm. They moved here from Delaware, my husband's home state. Pat's grandmother "Nana" had already been living here since she had moved up to Alaska before anyone else! the adventurous soul that she was...she too lived in this cabin until her passing in the early 90's. I think Nana got to meet Patlu, May and cousin Erica, but did not live to see any of the other kids, she would have loved Robin..!

Joan Mourat...music teacher, composer and a beautiful person in the Lord..

Miss JoAn has been here for many years and her selfless, talented and giving spirit is evident in the countless musical performances and the training that she has and is providing for our children. Here are some lovely portraits from Sarah...JoAn is enjoying some quiet time in her little cabin in the woods...working on her next musical to treat our ears....

Thank you Miss JoAn, we love you!

NICE WEATHER...WINDY

Hi – I must brag today of our warm wind and weather.  It is presently 28*.  It is so nice.  Of course, the wind might blow us away, but… we’ll be warm.

Last Sunday, Prins Samuel came out to preach and to share about his recent and upcoming trips to India.  He talked about the topics:  Jesus is coming; The day of the Lord is great and terrible; When, how, why is He coming; and What will He do when He gets here?  Excellent word.  He told a few stories too.  The only reason I mention the stories is that the stories were things that happened between him and Jeff Moore when they lived here years ago.  All my kids said, “Jeff who?”  Rich and I laughed at them before telling them that Prins was talking about their Uncle Jeff.

Last night we had a quiet sharing meeting with only Miss Judy, Aunt Jeni, and Miss Millie sharing.  A lot of the men were missing due to working.

The logger guys have their ice bridge built and are hauling equipment out to the woods to begin logging like wild men. 

Allyson is taking a ten day course in Tok concerning something to do with EMT stuff.  Jon is holding down the house with three boys (Matt Dean lives with them during the week and goes home to Tok most weekends) and little but very grown up 3 yr old Julie. 

The community refrigerator went out yesterday.  Merlin will go into town to buy a new fan for it since he ascertains that the fan is the problem.  We have reverted to “old days” sorta by having to put our food in the root cellar to keep it cold.  Actually, in the old days, we put food in the spring and/or in the root cellar and I don’t know where else since I was just a child then!

Pat called from Wasilla, is keeping busy with his pizza delivery job and going to the EMS in the evening and night. Taking courses, going on ambulance runs, etc....getting a lot of exp. hours logged.

Kids and teachers beginning to exp. a serious case of "spring fever"....

My snoshoe trail is getting so soft am falling off the edges, will hv to find another trail or change activities...

Just finished a Social St. project with Robin about communities and how they grow and change with the passing of time...from our American Heritage BJU series. Putting up all sorts of pictures from when this place began, some of them are from the early 70's...everybody looks soooo young...Pat was only about 19 when he first came here to take charge of the hog program....memories old and new...the boys had fun doing it...and it got Robin writing...will post pics when I can...

Ok, I better get to school.  Have a good day!  

QUICK NOTE.......

Hi all,

We’ve been enjoying some warm weather again.  Yesterday we had 17° and 10°.  Tonight it’s 9°. 

Garth is home from chauffeuring the ministry around.  The ministry have continued on into Canada. 

The guys played a big game of hockey last night after spending the afternoon cleaning off the rink. 

Pat gave me a mini rose bush, a nice card and some chocs for V day...that was sweet...Rob gave me some chocs in a heart shaped box and a handmade card he made in Art...I gave Annie some chocs and a card and the same for Pat...it was a nice peaceful day. 

The Guillards came out to supper last night.

I enjoyed a couple of hours of peace tonight while the kids went to play basket ball in Dot Lake with Tommy.  I really did enjoy the quiet!

Becky Riche sent an email from Ireland.  She’s having a good time over there with Jon and Sarah.

May is still travelling with my cousin Carol in the southern coast of the UK, Dorset, Wareham, etc. she is getting to meet most of the cousins, some of them whom I've never met before.  She is having a good time...

Very blustery today as we took the boys out for a walk just before  lunch, we had to take refuge in the tack shed cause it was so gusty. It is nice to see the sun and feel its warmth.

Pat is doing well in his new job as and EMS with the Matsu Borough. Taking courses and learning the ropes. Also working at a pizza delivery place to make ends meet.

God bless, and have a good rest of the week.

gri

windy but sunny...

A chilly wind came up yesterday and warmed us up.  This morning we still have a chilly breeze, but the temperature reads 4°.  It is cloudy over the mountains so maybe we’re getting snow later.

Olivia did make it home on Thursday night.  Many of the young people went over to visit which cheered her immensely.  It will be a slow healing process for the next several weeks or maybe months. 

I heard that Bro Buddy was released from the Juneau hospital.  The Dr. found a small ulcer that was causing the bleeding and weakness.  Bro Buddy returned to the Haines farm/convention where he ministered in the evening meeting.  I heard today that the ministry was going to try to make it over to Hoonah for a few days of convention. 

Jarred and Jennifer took Jennifer’s parents to the airport this week.  They will be going home to New York.  I was sorta getting used to them being here.  They seemed to belong. 

Ohhhh… big news… Erica Mehaffey, my niece, got married to a guy who is in the US military. They met through a mutual friend in Fairbanks while she was taking her UAF cosmetology course during this winter, they got married last weekend.  It happened during convention so only Ben, her dad,  attended the VERY small wedding. I think it was a small ceremony at her mother's flat in Fairbanks.  I think we’re trying to have a shower out here for her soon. Her new husband is gonna be posted in CA doing some maneuvers in the desert and after that they both will move to New York, his new posting.

May has left the Blessington community in Ireland and is now visiting my relatives in the UK. She is having a relaxed time and enjoying herself. My cousins in the UK are empty nesters and they are probably enjoying May's company. 


May is pretty much making the same trip I made to visit family way back in '72...when my cousins are I were all younger and still single...I have never met any of their own grown children...but May will be taken on a tour of the family who still lives in the Dorset/Wareham area. 


After a month there she will go to Spain in March for the family reunion with my stepmom and sister from Argentina and my sister Alexandra from MO who will be attending with her grown married kids, spouses and grandkids.... I hear that even my aunt Sylvia from Redding UK, will make the trip...she is in her 80's and Mother's youngest sister, so that is quite adventurous of her...amazing! Patlou and self stayed at her small apartment when we visited the UK in '05 the year he graduated from HS. Now I wish I were going myself...
K has also invited her to a 5 day package deal to Italy after the reunion. May will have been gone almost 5 months by the time she gets back in April...we all miss her very much but know this is a great opportunity for her...


God speed May!   

Took Flo to Delta and the Frt. Greely Base for much needed shopping after convention. It was so windy we had to hold onto each other! Otherwise an uneventful trip.

PatLou has passed a series of tests and certifications and seems to be happy and enjoying his new life and opportunities working at the EMS clinic there, likes the people and seems adapted to his new circumstances.  He is now driving an ambulance, as well as taking courses and ongoing training towards becoming a firefighter/paramedic...


He picked Beth up at the airport in Anchorage a few days ago but now is back at work in Wasilla. We are expecting Beth here at the farm on March 27th. for about 3 weeks. Something to do with her ongoing degree. We are all looking forward to getting to know her before she has to return to the UK and finish her studies at the Exeter Univ.

I better make breakfast.  More later. 

Have a nice week end...

gri


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THANKS

FARM NOOS...ETC.

Hi.  This morning we awoke to -30°.  It warmed up during the day to about -16°, but it has started to drop again. 

Bro Joe McCord did show up for the last meeting of convention.  Bro Buddy closed up the convention.  I wasn’t feeling well during the whole convention so I didn’t get good notes on anyone.

Our prime rib dinner was excellent.  Seth Fouse was the main boss of that, but he had lots of help from other men and young men. 

The Rotundi kids from Watson Lake, Canada – Seth, Abbie, and Micaela came for the convention.  Our kids had a really good time with them.

On Monday, some of our kids were going to take the Rotundi kids riding.  After they had gotten all saddled up, and once they had started riding, one of the horses spooked.  That spooked another horse.  Several riders hit the ground.  Cody was either kicked in the face or fell on his face because his nose was quite swollen and he had some scrapes on his forehead.  My Annie was also thrown and her inner thigh got hooked on the saddle horn I think, she's not sure...has a big blue and black bruise....Olivia couldn’t get up or move without intense pain. One of the other kids had fallen on top of her when they both landed. Riding doubles...not good..

She was taken to Tok for x-rays and a check up.  Due to some more problems, Olivia was taken to Fairbanks.  We already knew that she was badly bruised, but in Fbks we found out that she’d broken three processes in her lower back.  (A process is the pokey out things on your backbone.)  Olivia came home today; she’s in a lot of pain but is doing well.  Recovery might take awhile. 

We heard that after the ministry reached Haines that Bro Buddy had to go to Juneau due to some weakness from internal bleeding.  We haven’t heard anything more so we don’t know if he is able to finish the Northern Tour if he had to go home. 

For those who know Randy Randolph from Canada, he passed away this week. 

Take care,

Gri

My Blog Wordie...

RANDOM CONVENTION THOTS AND RECAPS....

... there's an old story out there and it goes something like this:

...enter the tightrope walker, who is going to cross the Niagara Falls. There's a gathered crowd full of expectation, watching to see what will happen...is this guy gonna do it or not? 

As they're all waiting for him,  he turns to the crowd and yells: "Do you think I can do it?"...the crowd yells back: "Yes, yes, you can do it!"...so..

.. the tight rope pro gets himself prepped and takes his balancing rod and goes across the foaming waterfalls and comes back! 

wow!

Everybody cheers...

...then the pro puts his balancing rod down and gets a wheelbarrow. Again, he turns to the crowd and yells: "Do you think I can do it?"..."Yes, yes, you can do it!" they yell back...

..and so.. the guy gets his wheelbaroow and lo and behold! He does it!

He goes across Niagara Falls and comes back!

WOW!  AWESOME!

...then the pro turns to the crowd and asks: "Ok, so you saw me do this four times now and here I am!...

So you know I can do it, right?  Now... who wants to volunteer to get into the wheelbarrow and let me cross Niagara Falls with me pushing the wheelbarrow and you in it!..any takers?...

...huh?...."

Deathly silence...nobody wants to volunteer to get into the wheelbarrow and let the guy take him across the falls....

Hummmmm......

So what changed?

Ahhhh....suddenly it got PERSONAL!

Kinda like our walk in God, isn't it? 

We can believe God can do ANYTHING!, but do I trust Him enough to see this thing through for ME..

..do I really, really, trust Him when it gets personal? When my life's at stake...

We love the show don't we?,,,watching others pay the price...but am I willing to pay that price, the ultimate sacrifice...whatever that may be...

..As King Edmund says in The Horse and His Boy:


..."There's the rub, sister," ...

...Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief....